a lie for a lie

**Evelyn Karamazov** I’ve spent all twenty-three years of my life immersed in the world of the mafia, groomed to rule with an iron fist. But power in our world doesn’t come without a price, and that price is marriage—a union built on strategy rather than so-called love. It’s the last thing I want, but in this life, sacrifices are the currency we trade in. And if I have to choose, I’ll sacrifice to the devil I know rather than the angel I don’t. But make no mistake, a sacrifice is still a sacrifice, and it demands its due. **Killian Bandini** Sixteen years—that’s how long I’ve waited to exact my revenge. Sixteen years to drown in nightmares, consumed by guilt and the unyielding desire to set things right. My father is dead, and now the Bandini empire is mine. The time has come to collect what is owed, and God help those who wronged me, because they will pay with blood. ★ What happens when the most lethal, most infuriating man to ever walk the earth crashes your wedding, puts a bullet in your would-be husband’s head, and holds everyone at gunpoint just to ensure you marry him instead? Killian Bandini doesn’t ask; he takes. But if he thinks I’m some meek bride to be bartered and controlled, he’s dead wrong. I may have to marry him, but I sure as hell won’t make it easy. He’s come for blood and power, but he doesn’t know that I’m not just a pawn—I’m a queen, and this game has only just begun.

His hand gripped the waistband of her drawers, but Celia’s small hand grabbed his before he could pull it down. “Xavier please...” Xavier shook his head, stepping even closer. “That’s exactly how you had begged me that day...you had laid so vulnerable in my bed, looking like a ball of perfection. You remember it, don’t you?” Celia’s eyes glanced away from him as she nodded. “Yes...” “Then how could you really believe that I’d let anybody else see you naked? You became mine that very day.” He leant down, his lips resting in the crook of her neck. “You need to behave though, be a good girl...can you do that?” Celia nodded again, the closeness of his proximity driving her mad. “Yeah.” “Then let go of my hand.” - Celia Cobourne betrayed her pack in aid of being with him; her one true mate, and yet instead of accepting, he abandoned her. She deserved it though, didn't she? She was already branded, she was already used...and futhermore, what would an alpha king really do with a Rogue...? _ Xavier Macre or Rather Kaheel Macre as he came to know, ranked up from a rogue to an Alpha King after finding his real parents...he had stepped on many people for revenge and revenge got him on the throne he now sat on... But with nothing but a throne and a crown, what joy would he have? Could he go back to his mate? The rogue one, the stepping stool that brought him where he was today? Or should he try to get with her twin sister...the happily mated one...the one that stole his heart, then broke it for his brother? BOOK 2 IN THE UNWANTED SERIES

Clint Nelson has been the best friend of the future Alpha of Canyon Ridge pack, Anders Forte, his entire life. So, he was surprised but unconcerned when, on his 10th birthday, his wolf awakened as a Guardian. His original plan to be Anders' Beta changed to becoming his top warrior so that he could ensure that Anders always remained safe. Lily Raines has grown up with Calista Johns most of her life. They have shared their hopes and dreams of what their life will be when they finally meet their mates. When Clint and Anders begin showing an interest in them, neither is happy with the attention. Lily continually refuses to date Clint, knowing his playboy reputation. When her wolf is suddenly blessed with the Guardian spirit at 17, Lily's life will turn upside down, and she will be forced to turn to the only person that can help or understand her, Clint. Clint will train Lily and help her to understand the nature of her Guardian spirit. Through their time together, a respect and romance will blossom until Lily turns 18 and realizes that Clint is her fated mate. The two will have a beautiful romance, celebrating their life, the birth of their daughter and protecting the pack they love until one day tragedy strikes, taking one life and leaving the other broken, having to raise their daughter alone.

When two kingdoms stand on the verge of war, a young girl is forced into marriage to keep the peace. Nevaeh, Princess of Walreece is to be wedded to the Lord of Gavaria against her wishes and she plots to ensure the marriage doesn't pull through. But what happens when all her efforts get flushed down the drain with the Lord of Gavaria intent on wedding her? Is it solely for the purpose of peace or are there other reasons he needs this union to work?

After the mysterious death of her parents, Portia Esmeralda is bullied into a contract marriage by her two elder brothers who once loved her. But things start going pretty downhill when on her wedding day, the groom is nowhere to be seen and the guests are all killed. As well as her evil brothers. In order to end what would become a generational feud, and save her ill nephew, Portia agrees to marry Callahan Scarfoni - the monster who ruined her day and killed her terrible brothers. Callahan is a man scarred by his past and thirsty for revenge. His sole plan? Finish off the Esmeralda family till no one is left. Just like how they didn't spare his many years ago. But there's just one Esmeralda he just couldn't hurt, no matter what. Portia. She's his to tame. She's his possession, to own and protect.

On the one-year anniversary of the company's public listing, my wife, Susan Lynn, publicly announced that she was gifting a supercar worth millions of dollars to her childhood friend, Charles Baker. Charles, with his arm around her shoulder, raised his glass and said, "Thank you, Susan. Here's a toast to our friendship!" I let out a derisive laugh and walked away. Susan, feeling upset, chased after me, shouting, "Angus, what's your problem? What's wrong with me giving the top salesperson a supercar? You're just a useless waste of space, and you still dare to throw a tantrum!"

Menurut Binar, menikah adalah pilihan, bukan kewajiban. Di abad 21, sudah tidak zaman jika perempuan tidak diberi kebebasan untuk memilih soal pilihan hidupnya. Di lain sisi, pernikahan tidak pernah ada dalam kamus Banyu. Di dalam kamusnya hanya ada 3 kata: kerja, kerja, dan kerja. Namun, tidak dengan keluarga keduanya. Di usia Binar yang sudah kepala tiga dan usia Banyu yang memasuki pertengahan tiga puluhan, membuat orang tua keduanya ketar-ketir untuk segera menjodohkan mereka, dan membuat kepala Binar dan Banyu pusing bukan kepalang. Ide gila apa yang akan Binar dan Banyu lakukan? Apakah keduanya akan tetap teguh dengan pendirian mereka? Penasaran dengan kelucuan dan gemasnya kisah mereka?

For someone with a last name like Love, Cassie hasn't been all that lucky in it. First her sister crashed her wedding and made away with her fiance, and now she finds herself married to a grouchy hockey player who is averse to love and festivities, and brings out the sassy side of her. She can't wait for the holidays to be over so she'll get an annulment and never have to see Liam again. If only it were that easy...

She’s innocent and untouched. He’s a dominant control freak. Their worlds are totally different, but they both have one thing in common—a trauma neither wishes to revisit. She knows he’s everything her family has been running from, but he can’t get enough of her. The more she runs, the more she realizes he’s a constant in her life she can’t escape. For a man with scars running as deep as his own, Russel Mancini knows his tempting angel can either be his salvation or another heartache to ruin him—forever this time.

Cassandra Jones was without a mate for a very long time until she attended a moonlit party and fell in love with a Lycan, Lucian. The feeling was mutual and without hesitation, they got married. However, their wedding night took an unexpected turn when Cassandra woke up the next morning, realizing she had not been intimate with her husband, but with a complete stranger. Who is this stranger? What factors contributed to her inability to recognize that it wasn't her husband? What happens when she gets pregnant and isn’t sure of who owns this baby?