Ruinous Return - Chapter 44

Elia is a poor university student until the night she’s taken to the world of the Anima—ruled by humans whose ancient hearts pulse with the blood of animals. There she’s forced into a battle to the death. But when Elia survives, and refuses to kill her final opponent, the King must either kill Elia himself, or take her as his mate.

Reth, the brutal King of the Beasts with the blood of lions, shocks everyone when he chooses the weak, human Elia to become his Queen. He promises her every comfort of his wealth and position—but he is clear: She will not warm his bed. He chose her to defeat those that were trying to corner him into blending his Leonine line with the Wolves.

Elia needs the help of the Anima to become stronger and rule them well. But the vengeful Wolves see only a weak human that brought them shame. As Elia and Reth grow closer, the wolves are determined to destroy her. Will Reth and Elia admit their feelings for each in time to fight for the Kingdom—and their lives—against the villainous wolf-tribe? Or will the wolves kill Elia and steal the throne?

[Mature content - no sexual violence]

*****

He stalked towards her, chin low so the shadow cast by his hard jaw cut across the thick fur collar of his vest. His hair had fallen over his eyes in the scuffle, so he peered at her through it like a lion in the grass. With each step, his graceful, rolling gait reminded her of a predator stalking its prey. Despite the forest floor littered in twigs and leaves, he didn’t make a sound.

“Wh-who are you?” Elia stammered, backing away, her hands up. He met her step for step until she came up hard against the tree behind her—and didn’t stop until he loomed over her, so broad his shoulders and chest made a wall in front of her. She could feel the heat rising off his skin in the cool, night air.

“I am the Leonine King.” His voice was a dark, husky gravel. Behind him a chorus of wheezes, howls, and chirps of agreement rose from the people watching. “And you are?”

“Elia,” she breathed.

“Elia,” he growled, leaning in closer, bringing with him the scent of pine and rain and the musk of something distinctly male. “I am Reth.” He said the name with a strange, guttural roll in his throat. “I am King of Beasts. I am Clan Leader, and I am Alpha of WildWood.” Several snarls rose from the crowds behind him then, but he ignored them.

Elia swallowed as he leaned in until the scruff on his jaw rasped her cheek. “I am the King,” he said, “And you will be my mate.”

The forest behind him erupted.

For ten years, Ryn lived in quiet exile with his wife Mira, far from a world overrun by supervillains. But when the flames of chaos reignite, he’s forced to return to the battlefield, stronger and deadlier than ever.By his side is Mira, his unwavering partner—devoted, ruthless, and hiding a darkness Ryn can't see.Enemies rise, old ghosts return, and war looms on the horizon. Ryn seeks justice, while Mira seeks to protect him... even if it means drowning the world in blood.Let them come.

Nicole d'Armand never expected to walk into her apartment and find her fiancé *bleep*-deep in another woman's lady bits. What's a girl to do?Well, after obliterating an 18th-century Meissen vase, delivering a punch that would make a heavyweight boxer proud, and embarking on a night of raucous drinking, Nicole figures she might as well embrace the chaos.But when alcohol and pheromones collide, her wild night spins into something unexpected... Like a ride on the Logan Everett express.Which, naturally, leads to a whirlwind of its own: She's his fated mate. Because of course she is.And he rejects her. Because of course he does.Now embroiled in a mystery bigger than her post-breakup hangover, Nicole finds herself the prime suspect in a murder she didn't commit—no matter how tempting the thought might have been. And the only person who believes her innocence? The same guy who shot down the idea of being her fated mate.Great. Just what she needed: her love life is a crime scene, and the man stupid enough to let her go is holding her freedom in his hands.

[Mature Content][18+ Only] [Smut]“Then let's dissolve our mate bond and reject each other! That way, you can make Claire your official Luna!” Addison's chest rose and fell violently, her breaths ragged with fury.“Who said you could leave? You are MINE!” Zion turned feral and took Addison back to their chambers and ravaged her for three days and three nights...“I'll make sure you're tied to this bed, and your legs are so weak you won’t even be able to stand,” Zion snarled, pinning her down. His dark eyes flickered with gold, a clear sign that his wolf was watching her from just beneath the surface....Because they never truly tried to understand each other, their relationship was filled with misunderstandings. Zion, blinded by his petty pride and desire for revenge, refused to defend himself. He wanted Addison to pay for what he believed she owed him, but that very resentment became his own downfall. Addison, on the other hand, couldn’t wait forever for him to let go of his hatred and pain. She was ready to walk away.But when she finally disappeared from his world, Zion lost his mind. He turned his own pack upside down in a desperate bid to avenge the abuse and torture she had suffered. Yet it was too late—she was gone. And worst of all, he never had the chance to tell her the truth: the pup in the other woman's belly wasn’t his.He couldn’t openly reveal it either, because that woman held a special status they couldn’t afford to offend. Zion had sent Addison away to protect her from being killed, but his pride had cost him everything. Hurting her became his greatest regret—one that overshadowed even the death of his father, the former Alpha.But the Moon Goddess had other plans. Their paths crossed once again.And then, Zion saw her. No, them. Addison had a son. No—she had sons. There was another one.Regret clawed at him. He had once taunted her, wanting to break her, but now all he wanted was to make amends—to reclaim the family he had lost. But how? The gap between them was wider than ever. She wasn’t someone he could simply walk up to anymore.Would he ever get the chance to fix what he had broken? Or would Addison choose the mate her father, the Alpha King, had picked for her? After all, she wasn’t just anyone—she was the Alpha King’s only daughter, destined to be the first female Alpha King in history.