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Chapter 1 The transaction

The dress wasn't white.It was champagne-cold, lifeless, and expensive. Just like the man waiting for her at the altar.

Ariella's fingers trembled as she clutched the bouquet tighter. Her father didn't look at her. He just nudged her forward like she was a package being delivered.

"You know the deal," he muttered under his breath. "Don't screw it up."

The chapel was small, private, and surrounded by men with guns in suits. The man she was marrying didn't look at her until the last second. When he did, her heart stuttered-not from love but from fear.

Dante Romano, Cold eyes, Expensive suit expression carved from stone. He nodded once. That was all the welcome she got.

The vows were spoken The rings were exchanged, No kiss, No smile. Just signatures on a contract that sold her like a product and just like that, Ariella Hart became Mrs Romano.Wife to a man who didn't want her. Property to a family she feared.Dante Romano didn't even spare her a glance before exiting the wedding hall with his men behind him and some before him, putting him in the middle of their protection.

THE NEXT DAY..

The car was too quiet, Ariella sat in the backseat of the sleek black Maybach, her fingers curled tightly around her phone, though she hadn't checked it once. The leather interior smelt like money and masculinity-like him. Dante sat beside her, legs crossed, unreadable as ever in his crisp dark suit.She hadn't said a word since breakfast.Not that there was much to say. She'd become someone's wife overnight, and yet... she still felt like a stranger.

Dante's gaze flicked to her briefly. "You're quiet.""You're not exactly a conversation starter," she replied, not looking at him.He smirked, the corner of his mouth twitching. "You've got a sharp tongue for a girl who signed herself over like property."Her jaw clenched. "I didn't have a choice."

Silence, they both knew she was right. And he hated being reminded of it. The car rolled to a stop in front of her university Students bustled past in groups, laughing, rushing to class, alive and carefree. Ariella hesitated. Stepping out of this car felt like stepping out of another world.A world where she belonged to a man no one could ever know about.Dante turned to her, reaching into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. He pulled out a black card-sleek, deadly-looking, probably with no spending limit-and handed it to her. "For what?" she asked.

"Whatever you need, Clothes, Books, Protection." His tone was flat. "Use it."

"I don't want your money."

"You already have my name. You might as well look the part."

Ariella didn't take it. She looked him dead in the eye. "You don't get to buy me off."Dante leaned in slightly, his voice low and sharp like a knife under silk. "I already did."Her breath caught.He opened the car door for her without another word, a signal that the conversation-and argument-was over. She stepped out onto the pavement, the weight of his eyes burning into her back as she blended into the crowd of students.From the outside, she was just another girl in a hoodie and jeans. But inside her pocket was a wedding ring she couldn't wear in public... and the shadow of a husband who was starting to watch her just a little too closely.

"Isn't that Ariella Hart?"

"What the hell is she doing in that car?"

"New sugar daddy, maybe?"

"She probably spread her legs for it."

Ariella kept walking. The comments stabbed like needles, but she was used to it. Mostly. The attention, the rumors, the jealousy... they'd started when her father remarried and brought in a new daughter-a daughter who hated her from day one.

"Nice ride," a voice sneered behind her. "Hope he tips well."

Ariella turned.

Danika.

Her stepsister stood there with her usual posse, arms crossed, an evil grin on her face. Same blonde curls. Same fake smile. Only this time, her voice carried louder than ever.

"Was he old? Or just rich?"

Her friends snickered.

Ariella didn't respond. She just stared at Danika, jaw tight. If only they knew the truth-that she wasn't dating some rich man... she was married to the rich man. But she couldn't say it. Not yet.

Danika leaned closer, dropping her voice just enough. "You might be fooling everyone else, but I know you. You're still the desperate charity case who begged my dad to love her, doesn't matter what you wear or what car drops you off-you'll always be beneath me."

She walked off with a toss of her hair, victorious as always.

Ariella stood there for a second, the morning sun casting a shadow longer than her figure. She wanted to scream. To cry. To run back to the mansion.

But she didn't.

She turned, lifted her chin, and walked to class.

Because no one knew her secret.

No one knew she now carried the last name Romano, and maybe that was her power.

She walked into class, back straight, chin slightly raised, pretending not to hear a thing.

But she heard it all.

The whispers followed her like perfume-sticky, cloying, impossible to escape.

"They say she's married now."

"Seriously? To who?"

"No one knows. But the car, the bag... someone rich, obviously."

"She probably sold herself to some old man."

"She's always been quiet. Creepy, honestly."

Ariella slid into her seat without making eye contact. Her heart beat steady, but her fingers curled tightly around the strap of her bag. She didn't wear the ring-Dante had made that clear. No traces. No attention.

But attention came anyway.

The rumors weren't wrong. She was married.

They just didn't know to whom.

Danika didn't help. She sat three seats ahead, loud enough for Ariella to hear her snide remarks, laughing with her friends like they were on stage.

"Some girls have to work for their grades. Others just... marry for them."

More laughter. More eyes.

Ariella didn't react.

Because no one knew the name she carried now.

No one knew the cold, powerful man she shared a home with.

And if they did?

She doubted they'd keep whispering.

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Moon Touched!!

Moon Touched!!

Scarlett Hart
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My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"

Chapters
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1

Chapter 1 The transaction

20/05/2025

2

Chapter 2 School area

20/05/2025

3

Chapter 3 Banquet

20/05/2025

4

Chapter 4 Banquet 2

20/05/2025

5

Chapter 5 Together alone

20/05/2025

6

Chapter 6 Together alone 2

20/05/2025

7

Chapter 7 Together alone 3

20/05/2025

8

Chapter 8 Sensational touch

20/05/2025

9

Chapter 9 Sensational touch 2

20/05/2025

10

Chapter 10 Whispers in the hall

20/05/2025

11

Chapter 11 His wife

20/05/2025

12

Chapter 12 Truth behind the transaction

20/05/2025

13

Chapter 13 The secret room

20/05/2025

14

Chapter 14 The casino

20/05/2025

15

Chapter 15 Mr and Mrs Romano

20/05/2025

16

Chapter 16 The encounter

20/05/2025

17

Chapter 17 The Encounter 2

20/05/2025

18

Chapter 18 The Encounter 3

20/05/2025

19

Chapter 19 Mine

20/05/2025

20

Chapter 20 Twilight between them

20/05/2025

21

Chapter 21 Cost of kindness

20/05/2025

22

Chapter 22 The weight of silence

21/05/2025

23

Chapter 23 The sound of his silence

21/05/2025

24

Chapter 24 Silk, Smoke and Scars

21/05/2025

25

Chapter 25 Silk and steel

10/06/2025

26

Chapter 26 The silence between us

10/06/2025

27

Chapter 27 The lie we tell ourselves

10/06/2025

28

Chapter 28 Soft morning, Hard truth

27/06/2025

29

Chapter 29 Yours and mine

27/06/2025

30

Chapter 30 Let me in

27/06/2025

31

Chapter 31 Heat of the moment

27/06/2025

32

Chapter 32 Dangerous Ground

27/06/2025

33

Chapter 33 Closer than Before

27/06/2025

34

Chapter 34 The calm before the strike

27/06/2025

35

Chapter 35 Flame beneath the silk

02/07/2025

36

Chapter 36 Loaded silence

02/07/2025

37

Chapter 37 When fire meets blood

02/07/2025

38

Chapter 38 Wounded walls, unspoken hearts

02/07/2025

39

Chapter 39 Under his skin

02/07/2025

40

Chapter 40 After the blackout

02/07/2025