betrayal

Kang Hauen’s family is on the brink of ruin. To save them, she agrees to a contract marriage with Kim Suho, a cold CEO who demands a child within a year. The marriage is strictly business: no love, only duty. Yet, living under the same roof, Hauen discovers the man behind the icy exterior is more complicated than she imagined. But Suho’s heart belongs to another, the woman he truly loves. Trapped between obligation, desire, and jealousy, Hauen must navigate a world of luxury, secrets, and intimacy she never expected. In a marriage built on contracts, who will win the battle of hearts, and who will break first?

He rejected me in front of them all. But if I’m going to die, I’m going to die on my own terms. Allison's smile faltered. “You think you can trick us?” “I’m weak to the point I can die anytime, why don’t you give me a chase?... It will be more thrilling for you.” My words were barely a whisper. “But to give you that thrill you have to give me a half an hour headstart.” ‘Yeah, I know it sounds stupid, with little to no chance of surviving. At least it was better than being mauled to death here… And I want to see if Damon would be able to watch the werewolves hunt me down. We had a deep bond even before the mate pull. I won’t accept his rejection yet… I want to drive him crazy to the point he will lose all his sanity.’ “No, you don’t have the right to negotiate with us.” One of them growled in his wolf form. “I’m not negotiating…” I spat out blood, and my face turned pale from the amount of blood I was losing. “I’m only enforcing the law… The law of hunting as punishment for a traitor… and I happen to be one.” Damon blinked slowly and finally answered. “Let her run.” His voice didn’t carry any weight. It was just cold, and empty, and detached like none of this mattered, like I didn’t matter. ‘So this was his decision… after everything we have been through.’ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When Ember opened her eyes, she was no longer the powerful, independent CEO she once was. Instead, she woke up in the fragile, abused body of a lowly Omega, destined to be nothing but a breeder for the Alphas. Her escape attempt didn’t get her far. Instead, it led her straight into the path of Damon Blackthorn, the ruthless Lycan King feared by all. Sold like a slave by her own father, Ember becomes the property of a man with a frozen heart and a violent temper. But beneath her submissive mask lies something more: a cunning mind and a will that refuses to break. Now, in a world ruled by dominance, power, and ancient bloodlines, Ember must do more than just survive. She must outsmart a king. She must earn the loyalty of the very people who scorn her. And maybe, just maybe, she’ll bring the Alpha to his knees.

A reclusive ancient vampire in London, Alaric Valerius wants only to forget his monstrous origin. But when a deadly grimoire from his past resurfaces, he is thrust into a hidden war across a supernatural Europe. Hunted by rival immortals, he must ally with a chaotic Welsh witch and a loyal Scottish werewolf to stop a conspiracy that seeks to weaponize the continent's magical ley lines and create a new monster.

In the northern part of the world, a long-standing battle between various races and the demon race has finally reached its end. The Demon Lord, a figure with black hair, red eyes, rules from her obsidian palace, having repeatedly defeated the Goddess, the strongest being in the world. However, she refrains from killing her, knowing she will only be reborn to lead another attack. As the goddess kneels before her, badly injured and helpless, the sounds of explosions echo outside, signaling the imminent victory of the alliance. Despite her immense power, the demon lord acknowledges the demon's overall weakness compared to humans and the Alliance. The development of fighting energy and mana has allowed ordinary humans to fight demons, leading to the demon army's defeat. Aware of the Alliance's intent to enslave the abyssal demon, the Demon Lord decides to cast a forbidden spell that will cost her life. As the Alliance forces storm the palace, they hesitate upon sensing the spell's energy. The Demon Lord vows to resist and be reborn to save her people. Meanwhile, the goddess reflects on the demon lord's past treatment of her and acknowledges her respect and dedication to her people. As the demon lord prepares to cast the spell, the goddess asks if she can abandon her plan and live freely. However, demon lords are duty-bound to restore the demon race's glory and protect her people. Understanding the demon lord's resolve, the goddess readies her sword, intending to clash with the demo lord's forbidden spell. The resulting explosion creates a mushroom cloud, marking the end of the conflict and the start of a new era. The Demon Lord and the Goddess become historical figures, their stories occasionally told. ----- All names, places, deities, and mythological references in this work are entirely fictional. They are not intended to represent or reference any real-world religion, culture, spiritual belief, or existing mythos. Any resemblance to actual events, names, people (living or deceased), or religious figures—past or present—is purely coincidental. This is a work of imagination, and all elements within it exist solely for the purpose of fictional storytelling.

Isabella Romano has always known her father’s gambling addiction would destroy their family—she just never imagined it would cost her freedom. When Giovanni Romano loses $5 million to the Salvatore crime family and can’t pay, his debt is called in by the most feared man in New York: Dante Salvatore, the 32-year-old Don who rules the city’s underworld with ruthless efficiency. But Dante doesn’t want money—he wants something far more valuable. He wants Isabella. Forced into a contract marriage to settle her father’s debt, 24-year-old Isabella becomes the unwilling wife of a man she’s been taught to fear. Dante is everything she despises: cold, violent, controlling, and dangerously possessive. He claims her as his property, locks her in his gilded mansion-prison, and makes it clear she’ll never escape. But Isabella isn’t the submissive bride Dante expected. She fights him at every turn, challenges his authority, and refuses to surrender—even as the explosive chemistry between them threatens to consume them both. As Isabella navigates the treacherous world of mafia politics, she discovers that Dante isn’t the monster everyone believes him to be. Beneath the ruthless exterior is a man haunted by tragedy, bound by duty, and desperately alone. The more time she spends with him, the more the lines between hate and desire blur. But their forced union has made Isabella a target. Rival families see her as Dante’s weakness. Traitors within his own organization plot to use her against him. And when a ghost from Dante’s past resurfaces, threatening everything he’s built, Isabella must decide: will she run from the man who imprisoned her, or stand beside the beast who would burn the world to keep her safe? In a world where love is the ultimate weakness and trust can get you killed, Isabella and Dante must learn that the most dangerous chains aren’t made of steel—they’re forged from passion, obsession, and a love worth dying for.

‘How cliché. I’ve read countless novels where the Hero is betrayed by their companions… but was I wrong to trust those who fought beside me for nearly six decades?’ ----- Betrayal. A word many live in fear of. A word some never expect… until it happens. A word that completely shatters one’s view of life. Just like any other heroic tale, Simon was the Hero of Earth, the one who defeated the Demon King and was about to end the war between races with his companions. Yet, in the end, he was betrayed by his own companions for reasons he never understood. Instead of finding death, Simon found rebirth. To his horror, he reincarnated as the very race he had devoted his entire life to exterminating… a race he despised, feared, and was disgusted by. Reborn as a demon infant within one of the most impoverished demon tribes, Simon found himself at the very bottom of a world he once sought to destroy. Fortunately, he was not entirely abandoned. His unique Seven Star Blessing, bestowed by his patron God, followed him through reincarnation. Armed with this Blessing and the Demonic Magic of his new race, Simon now harbors an ambition greater than ever before… to rise higher than he ever did as the Hero of Earth. To become a God. But the path forward is far from simple. Betrayals from those he would never expect. Endless trials and tribulations. And the lingering question of identity… Should he cling to his past as a human hero, or embrace his nature as a demon to survive? Can Simon abandon his hatred and live among demons? Or will he erase his past entirely and fully embrace his demonic nature? Will his thirst for revenge drag him deeper into darkness… Or will he rise above it? In the end… Will he be devoured… or will he devour all?

In a vast modern metropolis known as Iron City, power isn’t measured by skyscrapers or billion-dollar deals. Power belongs to those who are feared—and those ruthless enough to survive. Two corporate empires stand at the very top, locked in an endless war for dominance. The first is led by Arlo, a 32-year-old genius CEO—cold, merciless, and dangerously mysterious. Behind his company’s flawless legal image lies a brutal truth: Arlo is the leader of one of the most feared criminal gangs in the city. Illegal trades, weapons, underground networks—everything moves under his command. To him, the world is nothing more than a chessboard. The second empire belongs to Aleena. Aleena—30 years old, beautiful, gentle, warm-hearted, and far too kind for such a ruthless world. Her life shatters when her parents die in a suspicious plane crash. Overnight, Aleena inherits everything: a massive corporation, hidden illegal businesses… and a deadly gang she never knew existed. Thrown into a world of blood, betrayal, and violence, Aleena is forced to become a queen in a kingdom built on sin. And standing in her way is her greatest enemy—Arlo. Convinced that Arlo is responsible for her parents’ death, Aleena vows revenge. Meanwhile, Arlo realizes that a mysterious shadow is manipulating events from behind the scenes— someone who wants to seize every major corporation in Iron City, including theirs. Clashes erupt. Blood spills. Hatred burns. Until the truth slowly surfaces. They were never each other’s real enemy. Forced into an uneasy alliance, the line between hatred and desire begins to blur. Fights turn into concern. Cold stares become silent protection. And without realizing it, love begins to grow between two rulers who were destined to destroy each other. But in a world ruled by crime and power, love isn’t a weakness—it’s the most dangerous curse of all.

Neiki Hyuga transmigrated into the Naruto world as Neji’s older brother—a branch family genius branded with the Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird. On the night his father Hizashi Hyuga is forced to die for the clan, Neiki’s Byakugan mutates: he can absorb the eyes of dead Hyuga and evolve his own. From that moment, he stops being a victim and starts quietly turning the Hyuga clan into his hunting ground. Praised by Konoha as one of the “Twin Prodigies,” Neiki smiles in the light while, in the dark, Hyuga begin to “disappear.” Main family, branch family—it makes no difference. Every corpse is another step toward a transcendental Byakugan and the collapse of the cage that bound him. When Neji and Hinata finally confront him as a wanted traitor, the truth cuts deeper than any kunai. “Why did you betray the village—betray our clan?” “My foolish brother… the real question is: why are you still loyal to those who put a cage on your eyes?” This is the story of a transmigrator who refused to be a caged bird— and chose to become the blade that slaughters the flock instead.

Emmy Hart, a frail and introverted high school student who has endured relentless bullying from his peers. In a world where strength determines survival, Emmy is constantly targeted—mocked, beaten, and humiliated. His only solace lies in music, particularly the songs of Juice WRLD, which he listens to through his worn-out headphones. Emmy’s suffering reaches a breaking point when a brutal attack leaves him on the brink of death. But in his darkest moment, something awakens—a supernatural system that grants him abilities through daily quests. At first, he uses his newfound powers from the shadows, exacting revenge on those who tormented him. Yet, as he delves deeper, he discovers a hidden world beyond his school, filled with individuals who possess even greater abilities. Manipulated and betrayed, Emmy is drawn into a war between factions far more dangerous than school bullies. With his past erased and his memory restored only by the system, he sets out on a path of vengeance, determined to dismantle both the villainous group that used him and the so-called heroes who stand in his way. But as the battle escalates, he uncovers an even greater truth—a secret faction pulling the strings from the shadows. When they unite against him, wiping out his allies and imprisoning him, all seems lost. Yet, a girl from his past, the one person who secretly admired him, risks everything to set him free. Now, with the full power of his system unlocked, Emmy must recover five elemental stones hidden in perilous locations, each granting him even stronger abilities. His final test lies in stealing the last stone from a high-ranking member of the neutral faction. But as he faces impossible odds, an unexpected ally emerges—another rogue thief seeking their own vengeance. Together, they will wage war against a system built on lies. And Emmy Hart, once powerless, will rise from the shadows, ready to burn it all down.

The Red Paladin's sudden absence. A rise in R██████ Troupe Company mercenaries. A strange underlying power that has always existed. Will the Paladins uncover the many mysteries that lie before them? Join Yuna, Ryu, Mercy, Nico and Merphie as they venture deep into the corrupt, long standing country of Retroidica, all while grappling with their interpersonal relationships and perspectives on their Captain's status. Has he really betrayed them?

[Dark werewolf romance. Mixed POV.] “You’re pregnant?” Caden Wayne’s voice was calm, almost gentle, but Adele could hear the threat beneath it. In his world, love didn’t exist. Only control did. For three years, Adele endured a cold, cruel marriage to the ruthless alpha king of the underworld who saw her as nothing more than a scheming gold digger. When she discovered she was carrying his child, Caden refused to believe the truth. Twisted by his stepmother’s lies, he accused Adele of betrayal—while openly taking countless lovers himself. When he tried to erase both her and the unborn child, Adele ran. Five years later, she is no longer the broken woman he left behind. Living under a new identity, Adele has rebuilt her life from nothing. She’s now a celebrated interior designer, raising her brilliant twins on her own—and admired by powerful men across the world. But the past doesn’t stay buried forever. When Caden finds her again, the ruthless alpha lord who once tried to destroy her is suddenly begging for a second chance. This time, Adele isn’t weak. She isn’t desperate. And she isn’t alone. With her children to protect and a future she fought hard to build, Adele must decide—why return to a man who never loved her, when she now has the world at her feet? Secrets, danger, obsession, and revenge collide in a dark romance where love is the most dangerous gamble of all.

“I gave you my soul in my last life. In this one, I’ll settle for your crown.” ~ In my first life, I was the devoted Queen. I waited two months for my husband, King Lauren, to return from the front lines—only for him to walk through the palace gates with a beautiful young maiden by his side and a decree in his hand: ‘She would be the new Queen’. And because of that evil beauty he brought to our kingdom, I died a discarded "nobody," executed for a crime I didn't commit. But death didn't take me. It sent me back. I woke up on the morning of his return. The crowds are cheering, the flowers are blooming, and my husband is about to humiliate me in front of the entire kingdom. But he doesn't know I've changed. He doesn't know I've returned with a special skill that makes me the most dangerous woman in the room. Before he can introduce his "New Queen," I hand him the one thing no one in this kingdom has ever dared to ask for: Divorce papers. In our land, a Queen asking for divorce is an abomination punishable by stoning. But Lauren thinks I’m bluffing. He looks me in the eye, tears my petition to shreds, and growls, “You are my wife. I will never stamp those papers.” He thinks he is keeping me trapped. He doesn't realize he has trapped himself in a palace with a woman who knows every one of his secrets—and is prepared to burn his kingdom to the ground just to see him sign his name. My goal is simple; I will make him fall... not in love, but to his knees. Since he spent my first life making me cry. I’ll spend my second making him bleed.

Rei lives an ordinary, harsh life defined by weakness, failure, and quiet endurance, but everything he does is for one person—his older brother, Haru. Where Rei struggles, Haru shines, and their bond becomes the only thing that gives meaning to Rei’s existence. Around them are people who will later matter deeply—a silent old man with a violent past, a reckless fighter hiding guilt, a sharp-tongued genius, and a gentle healer who saves others without knowing why. The world seems cruel yet manageable… untill one day at school one disappearance shatter everything. That day, Haru is taken by a group called "THE SYNDICATE",a secret organization that is way much powerful than any organization in the world. Rei is left behind, and the line between ordinary life and a world ruled by power, experiments, and shadows is crossed forever.

When the mirror appears, it's said that the mind has reached its breaking point. For Ryo Kobayashi, a teenager consumed by the darkness of his own world, the mirror's emergence is both a curse and a catalyst. Alongside seven other individuals, each with their own demons and despair, Ryo is drawn into the mirror's abyss and transported to a realm both mysterious and terrifying. The eight strangers must navigate this eerie landscape, confronting life-threatening challenges that push their sanity and resolve to the limit. As they struggle to survive, they begin to unravel the secrets of this twisted world and the true purpose of the mirror. Will they be able to overcome their inner turmoil and work together to escape, or will they succumb to the horrors that surround them? I’ll be posting this book on royalroad.com https://www.royalroad.com/profile/613348

[18+ | Mature Content | Dark Romance] After slaving away for years as Ares King's sole overworked secretary, Catherine has finally had enough of his domineering and heartless attitude. She wants to quit and use the severance pay to settle her family's debts, and spend more time with her long-term boyfriend. But soon after she hands her resignation letter, she finds out that her long-term boyfriend cheated on her. He claims she's a wreck with no future, and he's better off without her. Heartbroken and devastated, Catherine is grasping at the last straw when her boss, Ares King, proposes a contract out of the blue. "Become my wife for one year." "Why me, Mr. King?" "Because we work, Ms. Lane.” The last thing she wanted was to make a deal with the devil. But this offer is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Sell your soul to the devil for one year. How hard can that be? ********** "How many?" I froze. Did he expect me to count? "How. Many?" "I-I don't—Ah!" Ares spanked me again, continuously. My eyes stung, and sweet pain overtook me. I should feel sick from deriving pleasure from this, but strangely, I wasn't. "Two?" I teased, purposely getting the numbers wrong. "You shouldn't have done that." Just as I thought, he started again, but this time he drove each hit with more force until my ass was burning. "Fifteen!" I yelled, shaking. "Wrong." My heart momentarily stopped. "I got it right!" "You missed one." He pressed his hand on my searing bottom, and I moaned. I tried to squirm away, but he trapped my hands behind my back, his voice dark with warning. "Move again, and you'll regret it." ~ A/N: This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or real events is purely coincidental.

*Mature Content Warning (18+)* This book contains dark themes, violence, psychological horror, and adult situations. Reader discretion is advised. Claire Allen is obsessed with the supernatural, driven by one desperate goal: to solve the mystery of her father’s death, which she believes was caused by a vengeful spirit. By day, Claire is a regular high school senior. By night, she and her friends, Lily and Stephnie (the medium), run Ghost Mentors—an online channel dedicated to helping lost spirits find peace and cross into the afterlife. Their work is a sacred mission. But their mission shatters when they investigate an abandoned New York house haunted by a cruel, dark witch. The encounter goes horribly wrong. A witch's curse rips Claire's spirit from her body, plunging her into a coma. Now invisible to the world, Claire is only seen by Michael, a dangerously handsome Demon Slayer from Hell, sent by Lucifer himself. Michael believes all ghosts are monsters that must be eliminated. Claire believes they deserve peace. She fights for the lost souls; he hunts them. Yet, when the only person who can see you is the one you despise the most, survival depends on a tense, forbidden alliance that blurs the line between enemies and lovers. A terrifying countdown begins: Thirteen powerful vengeful spirits have started a ritual to tear open the gates of Hell and unleash chaos upon Earth. With only 5 hours left to stop the apocalypse, Claire must do the unimaginable: Journey into the Underworld alone and ring the ancient emergency bell to summon the Devil back to his throne. As battles rage across two worlds, the true darkness unfolds: a powerful jealous friend (Lily) turns to black magic, a hidden bloodline is exposed, and a deadly betrayal threatens to hand Earth over to the demons. The Ghost Mentors: The Cursed Awakening A dark, high-stakes Urban Fantasy Romance where a high school girl must summon the Devil to save the world, only to fall for the demon hunter sent to stop her. Perfect for fans of powerful heroines, demonic anti-heroes, intense enemies-to-lovers arcs, and powerful heroines.

Marcus and Zara had been dating since she was sixteen, and almost a year had been spent having him by her side. He happened to be the billionaire’s heir. She was sure they would be mates, destined after all. But her boyfriend had found his mate, and it wasn’t her. A ruthless, super-rich Alpha Kane Sterling descended upon Zara's pack and found his destined mate there.

Zora, once a talented clan head, dies in her world and wakes up in the body of a bullied “waste” young lady of the General’s Manor. Betrayed by her sister Luna, abandoned by her fiancé Crown Prince Philip, and left to die, she rises again because the ancient "Ring of Chaos" has chosen her. Inside the ring, she discovers a vast inner world, two mischievous spirit beasts, and a forbidden art that belongs only to her. After one month of training, she transforms completely: stronger, beautiful, and no longer someone others can trample. On her first day out, she saves the crippled and unloved Prince, Kael, from an “accident,” catching the attention of everyone. He appears to be a playful, shameless prince, but beneath that facade lies someone with a mysterious nature. And from then on, their fates entwined with one another, which leads to an unexpected romance. With her new power, wit, and allies, Zora starts her road of revenge and growth, intending to become the strongest person on the planet. *** Update schedule: 40-55 chapters/week. (Have 421 raw chapters worth of draft, at the moment. Until it reaches the figure, this update schedule is maintained.) To support the author financially, other than gifts... patreon.com/snowstar