The Stardust Thief

Pathetic Isla. Worthless Isla. Hated Isla. Isla Kingston is the designated trash bag and unwanted omega of her cruel pack. Even with the biggest mating event at hand, she has no hope for love or finding her partner. However, her life takes a drastic turn when Axel Pendragon, the dangerously attractive Alpha prince, calls her his mate and steals her breath away. It’s love and lust at first sight, and Isla gives herself to this mysterious man, letting him own every inch of her skin and marking her as his, all in one night of wild passion. But Isla’s rude awakening comes in the morning when Axel brutally rejects her with no explanation. Her reputation is tarnished, and she has no choice but to run far away from home, carrying a deadly secret. Years later, Isla is successful and now engaged to a powerful billionaire, but when her twin daughter needs a transplant from her father, she knows she has to go back to her old pack and confront the man who had once rejected her, now a ruthless Alpha King, Axel Pendragon.

On my birthday, my husband of five years accompanied his childhood sweetheart to celebrate her dog's birthday. Avery Simpson published a loving post: [The happiest baby in the world. Mom and Dad will be with you. I hope you're always happy.] Seeing the words "Mom and Dad", I commented a question mark with confusion. The next moment, I found myself blocked. Charles Logan called me and lashed out at me. "Why do you always have to mess things up at the worse possible time? You're worse than a dog. How despicable!" Shortly after, Avery changed her profile picture to one of her and Charles, hands intertwined. When I saw the obvious provocation, I didn't get angry like before. That's because I had already made up my mind to get a divorce.

My husband and I have been legally married for five years. This is the tenth time he's canceled our wedding ceremony. This time? His student, Laura, is competing in her first international violin competition—and he 'needs' to be there. I still remember the last cancellation: an awards ceremony he had to attend with her. The time before that? She fell ill, and he stayed at her hospital bedside. The other times? I've lost count of the excuses, but it doesn't matter. The reason is always Laura. Her needs always outweighed my wedding. My marriage. My life. Fine. If he wanted to stand by Laura so badly, he could stay there forever. This hollow, five-year farce of a marriage? It's over.

My fiancee was diagnosed with cancer and needed a liver transplant. When I found out I'm a match, I agreed to undergo the surgery without a second thought. They removed two-thirds of my liver. The pain is excruciating, but the moment I wake up, I force myself to check on her. Outside her hospital room, I overhear her talking to a friend. "Trish, you're a genius! This revenge plan is brilliant!" her friend exclaims. Patricia Zeller laughs. "If I weren't trying to keep it low-key, I would've taken a kidney just for fun. It's all his fault that Warren messed up his college entrance exam and had to study abroad. Warren's coming back in a month. Once he does, I'm done with him for good."

While inspecting the hotel owned by my family, I start to feel hungry after ordering some food at the hotel restaurant. Before the food is served, I munch on a small piece of bread roll for the time being. Suddenly, the lobby manager comes up to me and hands me a piece of paper. "Hello, sir. We do not allow outside food here. It has been 8 minutes and 30 seconds since you entered our restaurant. The total cost of your meal is 1,500 dollars. You'll be fined 1.28 million dollars." I am briefly stunned as I look at the piece of paper detailing the amount I should pay. Then, I take a picture of the piece of paper and send it to the group chat that has all the members of the board of directors. I tag my elder sister in the next message I send. "I've received a fine at the hotel owned by my family. Is this how you've increased the hotel's revenue?"

On New Year's Eve, I prepare a feast. The clock strikes twelve, but my husband, Vincent Porter, still isn't home. My daughter, Lorelei Porter, tugs at my sleeve and holds up my phone. "Look Mommy, Daddy is at this lady's house!" Vincent has posted an update on Twitter. He is with Christine Snow, his childhood sweetheart. They are smiling at the camera, with a boy who looks about ten standing between them. In front of them sits a swan-shaped cake. The caption reads, "The most special day for the most special you." My heart sinks into my stomach. A marriage that came later in life can never compete with a pair of childhood sweethearts. I accept defeat.

At ten years old, I watched my mom jump to her death in a rainstorm. That same night, my dad brought home a glamorous woman and her nine-year-old daughter. I had feared and hated rainy days since then. My husband once helped me face that childhood trauma, staying by my side through every storm and promising, "Don't worry, Lena, you'll never face your fears alone." But when I refused to pick up his new assistant, he abandoned me on a highway in pouring rain, saying, "Marie is your sister, and you left her out there? Walk home!" That night, the rain never stopped, and I walked thirteen hours along a dark, endless road. That was when I decided I was done with him.

CEO's Midnight Temptation: Mated To Ex’s Irresistible Alpha Boss! My face flushed with heat yet I remained unable to break free from his comforting hold. He guided me to a secluded spot while maintaining constant contact with his hand on mine. I collapsed into the chair when he managed to get me seated because exhaustion was overwhelming me. I whispered my desire to remain in his embrace while I pressed closer against him despite the chair. Your warmth surrounds me and your scent is pleasant. Rytis stopped moving while his intense stare locked onto me as he leaned forward until his lips brushed my ear. The whispered confession he delivered next made my heart race. “Mate.” My eyes locked onto him while confusion scrambled my thoughts. What did that even mean? The moment felt monumental because it seemed like a statement that could change everything. The room spun around me while a single pressing question repeated in my thoughts without stopping. What was his intention when he said ‘Mate’?

“The next time they touch what’s mine, I’ll rip every last one of their bloody hearts out,” Cassius declared, his gray eyes burning with the possessiveness and fury of a thousand wolves. I gulped. *** To West Valley Crescent, he is known as Diablo - a man dreadfully feared for having the strength and powers of the devil himself. However, to his family, he was Cassius Ashford - the banished prince of Silver Dawn pack, hated for the alluring darkness that flowed through his veins. Venus Rynder’s biggest problem wasn’t the cursed prophecy she’d been fated to fulfil, it was rather getting through another day in the hell of a life she lived. However, when this small pack she-wolf catches the attention of two powerful Alphas, she’s thrown into a life of brutal fights, sweet lies and a burning desire between herself and the forbidden one. What happens when the one your body and heart aches for is the same person cursed to be your own demise? What happens when you’re caught falling for the wrong Alpha?

Does he really think so little of me? After everything I’ve done for him, for this pack, is this all I’m worth to him? Astrid’s voice breaks through my thoughts, her tone soft but firm. "You deserve better." I close my eyes, letting her words wash over me. She’s right. I do deserve better. But how do I move forward when my entire world has been centered around him? And why, after everything, do I still feel the faintest hope that he’ll come after me? Will he even care that I’ve walked away? Or is this the end of everything?