loyalty crossword clue

The vampire's deathmarked lycan paranormal When Alina strikes a deal with her father to survive, she is bitten by a venomous creature inside a forbidden forest, she wakes up with hazy memories and a bond she doesn't understand—one tied to the cold, infuriating vampire, Valerian. As she recovers in the company of his kind, to unravel the witches secrets and protect her pack, she struggles to make sense of her survival, her growing connection to Valerian, and the mark now etched into her skin. But ancient wars don't die easily, and neither do secrets. Thrust between a mate bond she never asked for and the looming threat of the past returning, Alina must choose where her loyalty lies—before the blood she carries becomes a curse.

In the dark underbelly of Philadelphia, two opposing crime families—the Morgans and the Rinaldis—have maintained a tenuous peace. However, when a merciless Japanese gang executes the killings of their leaders to instigate turmoil, the equilibrium of power breaks, sending the city into a lethal battle of trickery, treachery, and vengeance. Sierra Morgan, the unacknowledged and overlooked daughter of the Morgan clan, is plunged into a perilous task: wed Dominic Rinaldi, the icy and strategic new Don of Il Condottiero, and deceive him for the sake of her vengeful half-siblings. It’s a task she cannot decline, but as Sierra enters the foe's lair, she realizes that Dominic is not the cold-hearted villain she thought he was. Underneath his harsh facade exists a man marked by grief, allegiance, and hidden truths. As their arranged marriage develops into an unforeseen situation, Sierra feels conflicted between her allegiance to her family and the increasing emotions she harbors for the man she was meant to ruin. But betrayal runs deep on both sides, and when shocking truths emerge—including a secret child, forbidden affairs, and an insidious mole within the Rinaldi clan—Sierra realizes the true enemy may not be who she thought. With bloodshed escalating and time running out, Sierra must make an impossible choice: protect the man she loves or betray him to save herself. Can love survive in a world where loyalty is bought with blood, and betrayal is just another business transaction? A story of forbidden love, power struggles, and shocking twists, this gripping tale will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

When my father died, he left me The Costa Mafia, a broken family and a target on my back. Our enemies are waiting for their chance to destroy what’s left of the Costa name. My siblings are counting on me to save them, but I can’t do it alone. There’s only one man powerful enough to keep us safe. Luca Marino. The cold, ruthless Mafia king with blood on his hands and ice in his veins. THE MONSTER. The man everyone fears. I walked into his life with nothing to offer but my name and a desperate proposal. A marriage contract. No love, no romance. Just protection for my family in exchange for power and status for him. But Luca doesn’t trust easily. He doesn’t take chances, and he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. To him, I’m just playing in a deadly game. And the closer I get, the more deadly it becomes. My mother betrays us, then his father, then Luca dies. Or so I think. In our world, loyalty is a weapon, betrayal is expected, and love is a weakness that can destroy you. And now, I’m caught in a contract I may not survive. And falling in love with him daily.

Officer Emma Winter is one of the most decorated members of the police force, having successfully solved every case she has taken on. Her commitment and keen instincts have made her a standout in law enforcement. She’s now assigned to investigate the unsolved murder of CEO Franco Gil, uncovering links to the infamous Crimson Brotherhood, led by the ruthless billionaire and CEO Thorne Crimson. To her shock, Thorne isn’t just a powerful mafia boss; he’s the leader of the group that bullied her in college, his name bringing back painful memories from her past. Fueled by a thirst for revenge and the need for evidence, Emma plans to enter Thorne's world by pretending as a seductive woman at a bar. As she gets closer, her quest for vengeance becomes complicated when Thorne grows obsessively protective and captivated by her. Caught between her need for revenge and surprising feelings for the man who once bullied her, Emma must confront her past while dealing with the strong chemistry between them. As their relationship deepens, Emma faces a tough choice: betray the man she’s falling for to uphold her duty as a police officer and expose the Brotherhood’s dark secrets, or risk everything for the love of a powerful mafia leader who could destroy all she’s built. In this intense struggle between loyalty and desire, will Emma choose love over revenge, or will she stick to her mission and break the mafia’s heart?

After losing his best friend from a horrible encounter with few wolves from an enemy pack, Kael became sad and empty, then he met Ana , a human on his journey back home. Ana became Kael’s obsession, sparking a forbidden love that defied the rules of his pack. Wolves and humans could never end up together, the unlikelihood of conceiving together made their union unacceptable. Determined to disobey tradition, Kael was prepared to risk everything for Ana. But his pack, being scared of his dissent, thought to eliminate Ana. She was luckily rescued by wolves from the white wounds pack, led by their enigmatic Alpha- Kael’s estranged stepbrother. As Ana drew closer to her hero, fate brought her and Kael back together during an intense journey, igniting a clash of betrayal, loyalty and love. Secrets of the past unfolded, including the unsettling truth of Kael’s stepmother’s betrayal and the battle that claimed his father’s life. Will Kael and Ana’s love for each other endure the forces ripping them apart, or will destiny lead them down different directions forever?

Her life had been perfect once—a child on the way, the loving husband she thought she had, and being the Luna of the powerful Northern Range Pack. Then the cruel deception: finding husband and sister together and then the child taken from them. Shattered and banished to the edge of pack territory, Elena waits out a languid death. Fate, though, plays different hands when the infamous Alpha Lykan Blackwood knocks on the door and presents an old blood debt. Learning of the betrayal of Elena's husband James, Lykan takes Elena as payment instead of Elena's treacherous sister—the woman she was pledged to. Pressed into the harsh life of the Black Mountain Pack as their reluctant Luna, Elena is shocked to learn surprising secrets about her past and why she is childless. As dangers to his position multiply and Elena faces demons of the past, they create an uneasy partnership and then something more as their connection takes hold. In a world where loyalty is paid dearly and love more dearly, can traumatized souls heal one another? Or will the promise of treachery destroy their happiness when Elena's former pack returns to take back what they once relinquished?

In this captivating romance novel, Jane, a young and ambitious employee at West&Co, finds herself entangled in a web of secrets, lies, and unexpected love. When her father sells her away to the wealthy and powerful West family, Jane is forced to marry the enigmatic and demanding Liam West. As they embark on a journey of pretending to be a happy couple, Jane and Liam must navigate their complicated feelings, hidden agendas, and the scrutiny of their families and the public eye. But when Jane discovers the secrets behind their engagement and marriage, she must confront the consequences of her own actions and the true nature of her relationship with Liam. Jane finds herself torn between her loyalty to her family and her growing feelings for Liam, who is hiding secrets of his own. With the added threat of a rival company sabotaging West&Co and Liam's ex-girlfriend, Fiona, refusing to let go, Jane must make a bold decision that will change the course of her life forever.

BLURB When Ember Vaughn's long-awaited shift reveals a weak white wolf, she's forced into a desperate bid for survival. Sold as a substitute bride, she discovers her mate in Alpha Landon Blackthorn - but their love is short-lived. His infidelity shatters her heart, and she's banished, left to face the darkness alone. Fate intervenes when Alpha Kieran Blackthorn, Landon's stepbrother, claims Ember as his mate. As they build a new life together, the ghosts of her past refuse to fade. Landon's obsession with Ember's child sparks a deadly rivalry between the two Alphas. Torn between loyalty and love, Ember must navigate treacherous pack politics and ancient secrets. But when a shocking betrayal threatens to destroy everything, she's forced to make a choice: surrender to the shadows or rise as the Luna she was born to be. Will Ember find redemption and love, or will the tangled web of power and deceit consume her?

BOOK ONE OF THE KEITH SISTERS SERIES Nella, a woman disillusioned by heartbreak and betrayal, faces a series of challenges after losing both her corporate HR job and her relationship with Sam, who cheated on her. Seeking a fresh start, she takes a job at a flower shop and later lands a prestigious position at Elevé Cosmetics, where she becomes the personal assistant to Roy Logan, a cold and ambitious CEO with whom she shares a past one-night stand. As Nella navigates the complexities of her new job, she finds herself torn between Roy, whose vulnerabilities stir her, and Ethan, a steady and reliable friend who is secretly Roy’s fiancée’s brother. Meanwhile, Maya, Roy’s scheming ex, plots to tear Nella and Roy apart, and Nella’s toxic ex-boyfriend, Gray, becomes obsessed with her once again. When Nella uncovers dark secrets about her boyfriend and her connection with Roy deepens, she must confront conflicting desires, loyalty, and betrayal. Amidst the chaos, Nella faces an impossible decision—whether to follow her heart and embrace a tumultuous love with Roy, risk betraying her friendship with Ethan, or break free from the toxic relationships that bind her. In a world of shifting allegiances, Nella’s choices will shape her future, forcing her to decide whether true love is within her reach or if she is forever trapped by the tangled knots of her past.

Beneath the charming harbor town of New Haven lies a world ruled by kingpins—where empires rise and fall, love is a dangerous game, and betrayal exists in every corner.- Tag Cassandra Reed is no stranger to survival. Between being an underground deliveryman, waitress by day, and stripping at The Velvet Mirage by night, her life is a delicate balance of secrets and sacrifices—all for the sake of her mother’s medical bills. But one fateful night, everything changes. A mysterious man ends up dead in her arms, and Cassandra becomes the prime suspect in a murder that pulls her into the dark, dangerous underworld of New Haven’s mafia elite. Alexander Wolfe is cold, calculating, and determined to avenge his family’s downfall. Cassandra might hold the key to uncovering the conspiracy that threatens his empire, but her defiance and vulnerability stir something he thought he’d buried long ago. As the walls between captor and captive crumble, a deadly game of trust, betrayal, and passion begins. Together, they unravel a web of secrets tied to a stolen ledger, corrupt politicians, and a rival mafia boss with a thirst for domination. But as enemies close in, Cassandra must make an impossible choice: sacrifice her freedom to protect the man who’s captured her heart or risk everything to take down the woman who destroyed her life. In this world, love is dangerous, loyalty is deadly, and power comes at a price. Can two fractured hearts survive a war built on vendetta? Or will their love be consumed by the shadows of desire? Perfect for fans of dark romance and thrilling mafia story, His Shadowed Desires delivers unexpected twists, unforgettable characters, and a love story forged in the least likely of places. Prepare to be captivated until the very last page.