shikamaru shadow

“I now pronounce you as a husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!” The priest announced and I froze. I knew I was cursed the moment this blood oath was taken which bound me to hell, the hell of this Sinner. My eyelids raised to see the ugly creation of god. My husband! Vladimir Sokolov! His rugged face carved with uncountable ugly marks stung my slow beating heart. His hazel green eyes held a satisfied dark shadow as He pulled me close, raised my chin and whispered coldly, “From this very moment, you share the crown of Bratva’s pakhan. Prepare yourself to bear its weight, Babochka. Because I own your existence now!” He slammed his cold lips on my trembling ones, punishing me with a brutal kiss. Tears pricked my eyes with disgust but I tolerated his touch for the sake of my family. My eyes followed the part of the audience, Russians, who burst into cheers while the other party, Italians, looked at me with remorse and pitiful gazes. Oh yes, how could I forget I was the sacrificed lamb thrusted into hell to get scorched for a lifetime. But No. I still had the last hope to save myself from this cursed fate, this cursed marriage. ………….. Born in a sin will definitely be called the Sinner. Without morality and mercy, Vladimir Sokolov the Bratva’s Pakhan ruled the city with an iron fist. Due to the influence of some political parties He had to marry the Daughter from La Camorra. Rose Barbieri! Marry her, have his heir and wear the title of family man, that's what He planned to do but what He didn’t imagine was that his innocent, submissive wife was someone who would burn the flames of his hell into ashes one day.

"I, Ortega Blackwood, daughter of beta Denzel Blackwood, am rejecting you, Killian Fitzgerald, future Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, as my fated mate!" She uttered through gritted teeth, glaring fiercely at her mate as he descended the stairs towards her. His expression twisted into a mask of fury, his eyes blazing with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, his imposing figure cast a shadow over her as she lay on the ground, vulnerable yet defiant. "Do you dare defy me, Ortega? Do you dare reject your fate?" His voice dripped with venom, each word carrying a threat that hung heavily in the air. "You cannot reject me, Ortega. You will be my mate whether you like it or not." ************** Rejecting her mate hadn't been easy. But when Ortega meets the powerful and ruthless Lycan and Mafia Boss, Alfredo Gambino, she finds herself falling in love with him, even though he is the rival and enemy of her rejected mate. And Alfredo also finds himself unwilling to let her go, especially now that her rejected mate wants her back.

Caitlyn had never despised herself more than in the moments she found herself lost in Desmond’s commanding grip, her body betraying her resolve as he led her to a shattering climax. Night after night, she succumbed to the allure of this enigmatic and devastatingly charming body, his touch igniting a fire she couldn’t extinguish. Desmond’s presence was intoxicating, his gentleness masking the dark power he held over her. In every corner of his sprawling, opulent house, he unraveled her, leaving her trembling, vulnerable, and raw. But their connection wasn’t born of love—it couldn’t be. This was a game of control, a tempest of desire laced with pain. If this wasn’t just a false start, if it was something real… could they have had a chance at something more? Could she have loved him, or was she forever trapped in his shadow? Caitlyn had never dared to entertain the thought. After all, Desmond wasn’t a savior. He wasn’t her salvation. He was a demon—a man who wielded both tenderness and torment with equal mastery. And no matter how fiercely she tried to fight him—or herself—she was losing. Desire. Fear. Possession. Could Caitlyn escape his grasp, or would she surrender everything to the one man who both destroyed and defined her?

Ivy Grant, a nurse trapped in a marriage to the abusive Caleb Torres, is unaware that her husband is hiding a dark secret: he’s responsible for her parents’ murder, carried out under the orders of Maxwell Pierce, the Blackwood family lawyer. Fate brings Ivy into the life of Adrian Blackwood, a billionaire heir facing a looming deadline to marry or lose his inheritance. After a chance encounter and a passionate one-night stand, Ivy flees when she uncovers disturbing truths about the Blackwood family. Desperate to find her and meet the conditions of his grandfather’s will, Adrian falls prey to a sinister scheme by Dr. Sebastian Cole, who introduces a false heiress to secure Adrian’s fortune. As Ivy returns to expose the deception, a web of blackmail and betrayal forces Adrian into a loveless marriage, while Ivy disappears once more. Years later, Adrian’s life is in shambles until Ivy reappears with their twins, Lucas and Sophia, and a plan to reclaim their stolen future. Together, they must face their enemies and uncover the truth to restore their lives and find happiness.

This is part of Sierra Series. Story of Ethan Sierra. Seraphina Valencia was once a good girl with a life full of joy, surrounded by her childhood crush Ethan Sierra and suitor Liam Reyes. But her world crumbled when her father’s affair tore her family apart. After losing her mother in a tragic accident, Seraphina’s father brought his mistress and her daughter, Kendra, into their home, leaving Seraphina with nothing—not her family, home, or dignity. Forced into an arranged marriage with Darius Bernardo, separated from Liam, and treated as a servant in her own house, Seraphina’s pain pushed her to the edge. Will Seraphina find the strength to fight for the love she’s always dreamed of, or will she let the shadows of her past keep her from happiness? Will she seek revenge on those who hurt her? Or she will get swayed by the love she never thought still existed?

**Synopsis of *"Between Us and the Stars"***: Keisha Joli, a driven and independent woman, is determined to build a life of her own without relying on anyone. But her world collides with that of Jarren, a powerful and wealthy CEO, whose arrogance represents everything she despises. Initially sworn enemies, their fierce rivalry gradually evolves into an undeniable attraction neither of them can ignore. Despite their differences, Keisha and Jarren find themselves drawn to each other, each challenging the other in ways they never expected. As they navigate the ups and downs of their passionate yet tumultuous relationship, Keisha and Jarren are surrounded by their close-knit group of friends, who are all on their own journeys of love and self-discovery. But just as Keisha and Jarren start to believe they can make it work, a tragic turn of events shatters their world: Keisha's plane crashes during a business trip, leaving Jarren devastated and heartbroken. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Jarren spirals into grief, regretting every moment he took Keisha for granted. As he struggles to come to terms with her loss, a mysterious new figure, Sofia, enters his life, bringing a flicker of hope. But is Keisha truly gone, or is there more to the story than meets the eye? With unresolved love, heartbreak, and the shadow of a second chance, *"Between Us and the Stars"* explores the fine line between fate and choice, with the promise of a new beginning lurking just beyond the horizon.

The Darkness is being manifested by an unknown enemy, and prophecies of a war start coming true. The Protectors of the throne have been preparing for war for over 1300 years, but everyone is still wondering if the prophesized royal will emerge in time to protect the Osvald Kingdom. Rolf, a Regent Prince, has been hiding the fact he is a member of the Protector Family so he can earn his rank in the Lycan Army without the privilege he was born into. His world is turned upside down when he meets his mate and must decide if she is worth the exposure. Thyra has one mission in life, to avenge the slaying of her pack that happened five years ago. She doesn't have time for the pull she feels toward another soldier in the Officer Leadership Academy. Will he understand that her oath has to come before the distraction he brings? Or will she have to submit to him just so she can keep looking into his amber eyes...

So there I was, stuck in this dark Victorian mansion for a whole freaking century, thinking I'd never get out. Then, out of nowhere, these two gorgeous girls swoop in and rescue me! I couldn't believe it, and we instantly hit it off. They showed me a whole new world I'd only ever imagined, and I was all about living a normal human life.   But just when I thought things were looking up, this vampire named Vivaldi pops up out of thin air, grinning like a possessed Jack-o'-lantern. I mean, a name like Vivaldi is bound to give you the creeps, right? He claimed I had some ancient first blood running through my veins and demanded that I sign some crazy blood contract with him—the kind of deal that comes with some seriously freaky consequences.   Vivaldi was trying to sell me the idea that this blood contract was his only lifeline, the only way to save his skin from something worse than death. But I wasn't some clueless newborn vamp; I knew better than to just dive into something as serious as a blood contract. Those things come with some heavy consequences, and I wasn't about to sign up for that without a second thought.   The problem was, if I didn't go along with his messed-up plan, he promised to make my friends' lives a living hell—the very people I'd started to care about. I was trapped between a rock and a hard place. If I decided to team up with Vivaldi, I'd be keeping him around, which is far from ideal. But if I refused, my friends and the whole town of Shadowvale would be in serious danger.    It felt like I was caught in this impossible situation, like I was trying to choose between two rotten apples.

Melissa Roger never wanted to stand out. A simple girl in the strong Moonvalley Pack lived in the shadow of her once-great family. But when her mate, the cruel Alpha Dennis Bruce of the Storm Pack, rejects her for her perceived weakness, Melissa’s world shatters. However, what was meant to break her instead sparks a flame deep within, pushing her on a journey to find a power hidden within her bloodline. As pack tensions rise and a dangerous plot threatens the delicate balance between the rival packs, Melissa is caught between dangerous lovers, changing alliances, and enemies who seek to destroy her. But with every deception, Melissa only gets stronger. Will Melissa rise from the ashes of her rejection and find the strength to face the guy who broke her heart? Or will she fall prey to the pack’s dangerous secrets?

I was the Alpha's fated mate but my rejection was worse than one thousand needles pierced to my skin. "I, Weston Bruce Furrow, Alpha of the shadow Moon park reject you, Zara Liam Adolf of the Night Moon park. A pathetic runt weakling like you is no match for me." I could feel my heart breaking, Tuna was howling inside me, and I could feel her pain. "I, Zara Liam Adolf of the Night moon pack, accept your rejection" ________ Ugly, good for nothing, useless and disgusting are the kind of words that Zara hears on daily basis and yet she has grown accustomed to them that she doesn't even flinch anymore. Being the Alpha's daughter doesn't protect her from the harsh bullying of the pack, not when her own father is her worst tormentor. Years later, the man she hated the most is back, and she isn’t sure why the man who had rejected and humiliated her is back. She is being forced to negotiate with him. Zara want to forget how he rejected and humiliated her but her pack needs protection and that means putting the pack above her feelings since he is the Alpha who could offer them such protection. They say that whatever you deny s he was hurting her with his ice cold tongue and his cruel raw touch.