Marriage First, Love Second

**Recommended, but not necessary, to read The Reluctant Alpha before reading Her Second Chance Mate.** Holly Boland - Returning to Bloodmoon was meant to be quick—settle my in-laws’ estate and leave. But seeing Alex Whitland, my former Luna’s best friend and now my second chance mate, has turned my world upside down. I never imagined loving anyone after Nigel. Can I risk my heart again, or will the past keep holding me back? Alex Whitland - I’ve loved Holly Boland since the moment I saw her, but she was never mine to have. When Nigel died, I held her through the agony and let her go. Now, years later, she’s back, both of us with lives built around our sons. Fate has given us a second chance, and I won’t let it slip away. Bloodmoon Series: Book One - Alpha Logan Book Two - Beta's Surprise Mate Book Three - The Reluctant Alpha Book Four - The Hunted Hunter Book Five - The Genius Delta Short Story - Cult of Love (included in The Genius Delta) Short Story - Spy Games (included in The Genius Delta) Book Six - Seducing The Bloodmoon Princess Short Story - Warrior's Redemption (included in the Bloodmoon * Incubi Anthology) Short Story - Love After 40 (included in the Bloodmoon * Incubi Anthology) Short Story - The Hybrid's Rogue (included in the Bloodmoon * Incubi Anthology) Short Story - The Hybrid's Vampire (included in the Bloodmoon * Incubi Anthology) Book Seven - Her Second Chance Mate

Blurb: Pearl and Fabian's kind of love is a tale of unconditional and invaluable love, but where did it all go wrong? How did they start hating each other? Secrets have the power to destroy beautiful things, Things that were built on trust, sacrifices and undying passion, but is there anything like undying passion? When a Love like Pearl and Fabian's goes on a down spiral, when they start feeling bitterness whenever they set eyes on each other? But the question is, is it bitterness they truly feel? Or anger for not getting over one another? Find out in this book.

Before his Luna Talia, there was a first. A dark secret his father kept from him for years. What will Alpha Anton Bates do when he discovers the secret his father has been concealing from him and that his first mate is not dead. Will he reject his Luna and chase after his first mate or pretend as if she never exist?

My wife's first love kills me without a shred of mercy. But my wife, a world-class surgeon, doesn't try to save me. Instead, she comforts her first love. "He's so ruthless! How could he hurt you this badly?" She even tells the police that I've severely injured her first love, claiming she wants to press charges for attempted murder. Then she points at my body and demands that I get up and apologize to her first love. "Charles, stop pretending! You just want me to pity you, right? Get up and apologize to Steven!" she yells.

After three years of marriage, I believed I had the perfect family. My wife, Sarah, was gentle and caring, and our son was bright and adorable. On a rare day when I finished work early, I arrived home to find Sarah asleep, slumped tiredly by the crib. My heart went out to her, and I decided to carry her to our bedroom. As I approached, Sarah's phone screen suddenly lit up. A message appeared: “Sarah, is our son asleep?"

Amelie Cavanaugh has faced many hardships in her life. She was orphaned at 8 years old, ran away with her brother from foster care at 14 years old, and constantly worked to achieve her goal of the university. Just when her life is going to plan, life is turned upside down one blustery November day as her brother is injured during a football game. Billionaire Dr. Nathan Michaels is next in line to take over Michaels Investment Group as his grandfather, Carrington Michaels, is retiring. The problem is that the board members think his playboy ways need to be in line for the CEO position. Solution: Carrington Michaels tells Nathan he has 6 weeks to get married, or he will lose the company. A chance sighting of the stunning brown-haired Amelie in the hospital cafe sends Nathan's world into a spin, but when he turns around after receiving his order, she is gone. Who is she? Where did she go? How can he make her his? Will it even matter when a dark family secret involving both families could threaten any chance of happiness?

I was born just one minute after Tiara, but the world treated that one minute as if it lasted a lifetime. She was the star. I was the shadow. She was flawless. I was the afterthought. She was loved. I was forgotten. Even by Reagan de Russo, heir to the wealthiest family in the country and the man I had secretly loved for the past ten years. But to him, there was only Tiara. And when he proposed to her, I knew my quiet little dream had finally died. Until that day came. The day Tiara left him at the altar. The day the world stopped turning for just a second. The day the man who had never even glanced my way, turned to me and asked me to take her place. I knew what I was. An escape. A damage control. A backup plan. And I... I was too tired of being strong. So I said yes. We married. Without love. Without a future. Just a one-year contract and a life of make-believe in front of flashing cameras and watching eyes. But the longer I stayed by his side, the harder it became to tell what was real and what was just part of the performance. Because for the first time... Reagan saw me. But can love truly grow from the ruins of lies, old wounds, and the shadow of a woman who’s always been his first choice? Or will I always be… only the second best?

His first love barged into my office and stood before me, mocking, "He doesn't love you at all." I rolled my eyes. "I don't know whether he loves me, but I am Mrs. Brooke now. And who are you, exactly?" I was surprised that there was still someone so clueless in this day and age. Marriage was all about mutual benefit; the idea of love was downright ridiculous. To me, Noah was just a means to an end—a tool that would double my worth. I had never taken him seriously.

I had everything planned a month in advance for our holiday. I was going to take my wife and daughter on a trip to see the country's beautiful landscapes, but just before we were supposed to leave, they both disappeared. I ended up standing alone in the pouring rain, trying to call them. My daughter's voice came through over the phone—it was cold and impatient. "Mommy's having dinner with Uncle Skyler. We don't want to go anymore." Right after that, the call was cut off. I had been blocked. They locked me out of the house on purpose and left me to freeze out there all night. The rain had already drenched me, and I was running a high fever that turned into pneumonia. Meanwhile, the two of them were off enjoying a vacation with Skyler Shire. That was the moment I knew—this marriage was well and truly over.

“This place is huge. Don't you ever get lonely?" “I do,” he grinned. “That's why I can't wait for you to marry me and move in.” I laughed, shaking my head. "You're crazy.” “Crazy about you and I don't even know why.” *** She wants a green card. He wants revenge. But it seems they'll get more than they bargained for.