Trixie Sting

I opened my eyes to a sharp sting in my arm. Pushing up my sleeve, I froze. A dense line of jagged letters had been carved into the skin of my right forearm: [This house has monsters! Every time I'm killed, I'm thrown into a loop and lose all my memories. With each death, I mark my hand.] Beneath the warning, three crooked tally marks were etched deep into my arm.

His lips brushed my palm and every time his hot breath hit my skin, it set my nerves on fire. “What the—” I whispered, breathless. And then, with deliberate slowness, Sevastian slipped my ring finger into his mouth. My eyes widened in disbelief, my heart hammering against my chest. His teeth scraped my skin before sinking into the flesh, just enough to make me twitch from the sharp pain. I gasped, both from the sting and the bite I got from him. My entire body tensed as he bit down harder, marking me not with ink or metal, but with flesh and teeth. When he finally released my hand, my skin throbbed, the faint mark of his bite was visible against my finger. I cradled my hand, staring in disbelief at the mark he left behind. “This,” Sevastian murmured, his voice low and sharp. “Is my mark and ring.” His tone carried an edge, dangerous yet confident, as if the words were meant to bind me. “The symbol that you are no longer Celestina Valeztina-Savelli.” His lips ghosted over my skin, and my chest tightened as he whispered the next words. “...but Celestina Valeztina-Ortega.” His next words were a soft snarl, dripping with ruthless certainty. “My property, my wife.” He added, while locking his gaze on me. There was no hesitation in his eyes, no flicker of remorse, only that same ruthless determination that chilled me to my core. I tried to pull my hand back, but he didn’t let go. "You’re insane," I whispered, my voice barely audible, trembling despite my best efforts not to show it. “Yes, I’m insane,” he replied with a hint of mischief in his voice, “And I can drive you crazy…” He paused, letting the tension hang in the air.

In a world where love and betrayal collide, Aria's heartache led her on a rollercoaster ride of passion, deception, and redemption. As she grappled with the bitter sting of infidelity, little did she know that her life would soon be engulfed in a web of secrets and lies. When she caught her boyfriend Caleb entwined with her arch-nemesis Amy, Aria's world crumbled. As she severed ties with Caleb, a twist of fate brought Jacob into her life – a charismatic stranger who ignited an electric connection. But their burgeoning love story took a startling turn when Aria realized that Jacob was the father of a boy she was to babysit. Fueled by jealousy and greed, Caleb conspired with the manipulative Chastity to destroy Aria's newfound happiness. They plotted to make Aria look like a gold digger and Jacob a victim, using fabricated evidence to tear them apart. Through a relentless pursuit of the truth and unwavering support from her friend Bianca, Aria exposed the web of deceit woven by Caleb and Chastity. Her determination only deepened her bond with Jacob, who stood by her side, vowing to protect their love. As their love blossomed, Caleb and Chastity grew increasingly desperate, unveiling Aria's initial intentions to use Jacob as a pawn. Jacob, devastated, cast Aria out of his life, leaving her heartbroken and begging for a second chance. But a sinister revelation changed everything – Chastity claimed she was pregnant with Jacob's child, and the test results seemed to confirm her story. In her darkest hour, Aria found herself working at the clinic where the truth would ultimately unravel.

Emma has always been the wolfless black sheep in her werewolf family, enduring the sting of betrayal from both her boyfriend and her own flesh and blood. The cruel twist of fate leads her to Nicholas, her powerful brother-in-law, who is left paralysed after a tragic accident—but that’s just the beginning. Emma's sister, entangled in deceit with her so-called "fateful mate," mocks Emma's inability to understand the pull of true werewolf bonds. However, as secrets unravel, Nicholas discovers Emma is his second chance mate. His heart buried beneath layers of hurt, Nicholas makes an outrageous proposition: if Emma becomes his nurse, he will save her family’s crumbling company. In a ballet of tension and forbidden desire, Emma steps into a world where every touch sends shivers, and every glance binds them closer. Will their hearts heal and embrace destiny, or will the ghosts of the past and the weight of betrayal tear them apart?

So this is how the mate bond feels. A rush of energy, a pull like gravity tightening around us, and an almost maddening awareness of the other person. I wasn’t about to let it sway me though. Sure, the man in front of me is ridiculously perfect, but I wasn’t some love-struck fool who’d drop everything at the first spark of fate. I had a life, plans, and a fiancé waiting for me upstairs. I raised an eyebrow, forcing myself to stay calm even as my heart raced. “Take a number and get in line, sweetheart,” I said coolly, flashing the engagement ring on my finger in front of his gray eyes. “I’m otherwise occupied right now.” …Five years later, when I pushed the door open, my mate remained motionless on a leather couch, his piercing gaze boring into me with a cold detachment that sent shivers down my spine. He leaned back, the casualness of the gesture at odds with the intensity in his eyes. His arms rested lazily on the backrest, but there was nothing relaxed about him. His body was coiled tight, like a predator ready to pounce, and the air between us crackled with tension. “Is my number finally up?” he asks, his tone laced with bitter amusement. “My dear mate.” The words sting, but I can’t deny the truth in them. He is my last chance.

Cheating boyfriends and a heartless fated mate. Becca's life shatters when Elyon, her long-time boyfriend and the Alpha's son, dumps her for his fated mate. Deeply in love, they had once vowed to reject their destined mates and remain together forever. However, when the moment came, Elyon found himself unable to resist the enchanting pull to his beautiful mate, causing him to forget his promise. Heartbroken, she witnesses her boyfriend marking Xena, the daughter of a formidable Alpha. To deal with her grief, she escapes deep into the forest, straight into the arms of Zane, a bivouacking multimillionaire. He offers her a shoulder to cry on and a safe haven away from the pack where she can heal at her own pace. When Zane confesses his love, she initially hesitates. Elyon's betrayal is still fresh in her mind. When a mutual friend reveals she's pregnant by Zane, Becca once again flees from the sting of betrayal. However, happiness isn't in store for her when she encounters her own destined mate — a cold-hearted Alpha who has been searching for a mate to strengthen and fortify his pack's reputation as fearsome. Will her position as Luna provide the protection and affection Becca yearns for herself and her unborn pup? ...

“You have no idea what you’re asking for, do you?” he said.   I felt a slight sting of offence. “And what was that supposed to mean?”   He took a step closer, his face dangerously close to mine. I could feel the air shift. His presence filled the room. His hand moved to my cheek, stroking it lightly.   “I have a good feeling this isn’t your thing because you look like a doe in a den of wolves.” His voice dropped to a quiet, low rumble, making my stomach flip with excitement. Ayra had been the perfect wife—loyal, accomplished, and willing to sacrifice everything for the man she loved. But when he betrayed her with the one person she despised most, she didn't beg or cry. Instead, she slammed the divorce papers in his face and walked away. A reckless one-night stand with this dangerously charming stranger seems like freedom until she discovers his true identity. As Ayra fights to rebuild her life, a figure from her forgotten past reappears, threatening to change everything. She’s not just leaving her old life behind, she’s determined to create a better one.

Arllette Kimble was only eight years old when her family was accused of being witches when calamity struck the human village where she grew up. They were condemned. The night before her father's death, she saw her father transformed into a giant werewolf. The same night, she was taken as a sacrifice and placed in a cave where wolves howled each night. But when she was about to escape, she heard a manly voice claiming, "Mine" before she felt a sting on her neck and loss her consciousness. Little did she know that it was the Alpha king who has claimed her and was bound to change her ordinary life. What lengths the Alpha King will go to in order to satisfy his hidden obsession?

Skylar's world shattered in a single, drunken night. Not once, but twice, her destined mate rejected her – or so she thought. Blinded by the sting of betrayal, she made a reckless choice that left her pregnant and ostracized. Branded a harlot, she fled, vowing to build a new life. Years later, Skylar returns and she is no longer the scared girl but an elegant and powerful woman, with a secret tucked away in the form of adorable twins. But fate, it seems, has a twisted sense of humor when she meets the man who ignites a familiar spark in her.  He's the spitting image of her past. Except, there's a shocking truth – they're twins.

I knock on the door, heart pounding like it always does when I’m about to see him. “Come in,” Justin’s voice calls—cool, smooth, and frustratingly calm. I take a deep breath and walk in, holding the folder tightly. “Here’s the report you requested, sir.” He doesn’t even glance at me. Just keeps typing, his expression unreadable. “You’re late,” he says without missing a beat. I clench my jaw. “There was a delay at the printer—” “No excuses, Joanna. Just do better next time.” Ouch. Professional and cold. As always. I nod, ignoring the sting in my chest. “Yes, sir.” I turn to leave, gripping the doorknob—just one more second and I’ll be out of this weird tension-filled office— “Wait.” I freeze. I turn around slowly. “Yes?” Justin stands now, walking toward me. In his hand, a familiar brown paper bag. He holds it out. “You didn’t have lunch.” I blink. “I’m fine.” “You skipped breakfast too. Eat.” I hesitate. “What is it?” “Chicken pesto. No onions.” My breath catches. He still remembers? “Why are you doing this?” I ask quietly. He shrugs, not meeting my eyes. “I just… remember things.” My fingers brush his as I take the bag. Warmth. Stupid warmth that shouldn’t still feel this familiar. Then, he looks at me—really looks at me. “You shouldn’t skip meals… wife.” Silence. My chest tightens. “Don’t call me that.” But my voice is too soft to sound convincing. I walk out before I say something I’ll regret. His words echo in my mind like a dangerous lullaby. Cold one second. Kilig the next. God… he’s still him. And that’s exactly the problem.