Phoenix Mode, Activated: Burn Me Once, Watch Me Rise
Chelsey loved Brett for seven years and tried everything for a baby-doctors, IVF, surgeries. Then she found out he'd been dosing her food with contraceptives.
She woke back at the fire years earlier and watched Brett carry another woman out, leaving Chelsey to choke in smoke. She realized he'd been reborn too-and picked his "true love."
Chelsey walked away and married Julian, her friend's cousin and the hot firefighter who saved her; he gave her all his money the day they married.
Brett scoffed... until Chelsey shone at an AI summit and Julian's real identity shocked him.
Seeing her with twins and another baby coming, Brett begged, "Come back to me! Please!"
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Chapter 3
"Not marrying Brett?" Gretchen exclaimed, clearly stunned, before letting out a heavy sigh. "The wedding date is set, and the invitations are already out. How can you suddenly decide this?"
Seeking comfort like a hurt child, Chelsey pressed her face into Gretchen's embrace. "I just don't want to be separated from you," she muttered.
With slow, comforting strokes, Gretchen ran her hand through Chelsey's hair, and her voice softened. "My precious girl, you have loved Brett since you were young. Wasn't it always your wish to marry him and build a family together? Why has everything changed so suddenly?"
Those words sent a sharp ache through Chelsey's chest.
Reality resurfaced the moment Gretchen spoke.
Her parents had watched Brett grow up, and he won their trust and affection through his outstanding abilities.
After she and Brett got engaged six months ago, her father, Jorge Holden, had even handed company projects to Brett without a second thought.
Chelsey could not bring herself to tell Gretchen that Brett's heart had never held a place for her.
In her previous life, their marriage had been nothing more than a carefully maintained illusion of love and harmony.
She had not even been allowed the joy of becoming a mother. Despite sacrificing her health again and again, she never managed to gain even the smallest trace of his genuine affection.
Over time, even the Holden family's company had been quietly taken over by him, eventually turning into the foundation that supported his rise and the creation of his own business empire.
As those memories surfaced, a sharp ache pierced Chelsey's heart.
"Mrs. Holden, Miss Morley has returned, and Mr. Haynes is with her," a servant called out from outside the room.
Assuming Brett had come to talk about the wedding or to check on Chelsey after the incident, Gretchen gently patted her hand. "Don't let your thoughts spiral. Go wash your face and change into something presentable. You shouldn't keep them waiting."
A deep frown formed on Chelsey's face. So Lydia had only just returned. That made sense. After all, Brett's first love, the woman he had longed for over seven years, was finally back in his life. Of course, he would not send her away so quickly.
Lydia happened to be the daughter of Justine Morley, Gretchen's closest friend.
Half a year earlier, Lydia had returned from overseas to attend Chelsey and Brett's engagement celebration and had lived with the Holden family ever since, claiming she wanted to pursue her career locally.
Out of respect for her long-standing friendship with Justine, Gretchen had treated Lydia with exceptional warmth and care.
During those six months, Gretchen made sure that whatever Chelsey possessed, Lydia received the same treatment, never allowing any hint of neglect.
In the life before this one, Lydia's death in the fire had devastated Gretchen. She collapsed from grief and endlessly blamed herself for failing to take proper care of her best friend's daughter. Guilt swallowed her whole, leaving her world in ruins.
Later on, after her parents had passed away, Chelsey uncovered a hidden truth while organizing their remaining assets—over the years, Jorge had quietly moved large sums of money overseas.
The figures were astonishing. Every transfer led to a single account held in Justine's name.
Tragically, by the time Chelsey discovered this, both Lydia and Jorge were already gone. Because of that, she never had the chance to learn the full truth before her own life came to an end.
With this second chance at life, Chelsey resolved to find the right moment to warn Gretchen that Jorge might have been involved with another woman for years.
Instead of heading downstairs right away, Chelsey stayed where she was.
Because her ankle still throbbed faintly, she asked a servant to wheel her to the railing along the second-floor corridor so she could look down from above.
Standing at the center of the living room was Brett, his tailored suit making him appear imposing and distant.
In a low, controlled voice, he spoke plainly. "Mr. Holden, Mrs. Holden, I brought Lydia back today, but that is not the only reason I am here. I need to make something clear. The wedding between Chelsey and me must be called off. Over the years, I have only regarded Chelsey as a friend, not someone I love romantically. The person I truly love is Lydia. I sincerely hope you will accept our relationship."
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7.4
In a world ruled by dominance and desire, being an Omega is a curse, especially when you're mine.
On his eighteenth birthday, Luca wakes to a nightmare, his wolf has chosen the lowest rank of all. An Omega. The scent of submission, the mark of shame and the kind of wolf others own, use, and discard.
But Luca isn't broken, he's burning and the only one who's ever made him feel safe is Rafe, his best friend, his protector and his temptation.
Then Rafe shifts and becomes an Alpha and their wolves recognize each other, the bond between them is instant, magnetic, and utterly forbidden.
Because an Alpha claiming a Male Omega?
That's forbidden, but this Omega? He's different
Now their connection is more than a secret, It's a sin to their world, a deadly craving, slow, delicious and primal to fall into.
And when one bite can seal a bond or spark a war, how long can they resist it?
He's not supposed to want him.
But gods, he does.
And once an Alpha touches what's his... he never lets go.
8.2
In my previous life, I, Claire Holloway, was eight months pregnant, kneeling in a storm, begging Lucas Ashford to save the bankrupt Holloway family.
But he held his first love, Vanessa Wren, in his arms, looking down at me with cold disdain.
"The Holloway family's downfall was orchestrated by me. Did you really think I'd fall for a spoiled rich girl like you? If it weren't for getting my revenge today, I'd have found even touching you disgusting."
In despair, I died that freezing night—two lives lost with me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I was diagnosed with pregnancy.
Lucas was gently peeling shrimp for me, smiling as he asked what kind of diamond ring I wanted.
I looked at his hypocritical face and let out a quiet, cold laugh.
This time, I wouldn't make the same mistake again.
7.2
The Royal Pack’s glowing moonstone token rested in my palm.
Before I could even process the miracle of my rebirth, my half-sister Alyssa snatched it right out of my hand.
"This destiny is mine, little sister. Enjoy your cursed Alpha," she sneered.
My family easily caved to her whining. They forced me to take her place and marry Alpha Kaelen, a man they called an insane, crippled monster with three feral adopted sons. They laughed, expecting his beast to tear me apart before the honeymoon was over.
Alyssa thought she was stealing my crown. She didn't know she had just stolen my death sentence.
In my previous life, that exact token had made me the Alpha King’s Luna. But I was just a convenient, disposable meat shield for his true human mate. I died agonizingly, choking on poison meant for her, while the King didn't even blink.
I lowered my head, forcing my shoulders to tremble as if holding back terrified sobs. I played the part of the pathetic, wolfless Omega they all believed me to be.
But beneath my fake tears, I felt a profound relief.
I remembered the Kaelen from my past life. He wasn't a monster. He was powerful, agonizingly lonely, and slowly destroyed by a dark magic no one understood.
I wisely accepted the marriage pact and walked right into his freezing manor.
I know exactly who cursed him. And this time, I will save him, protect his boys, and make his entire pack mine.
7.2
Christa discovered her adopted daughter Evelyn was sneaking around with a street thug named Dante.
When she furiously confronted her, Evelyn squeezed out a few tears and played the tragic, abused orphan.
"Mom is so cruel to me, I just want someone to love me," Evelyn cried to the men of the house, who instantly took her side.
Christa didn't realize her anger only gave the girl the perfect victim card. Evelyn manipulated the family's guilt to drain their wealth and orchestrate a massive corporate fraud.
When the authorities closed in, Evelyn let Christa's eldest daughter Julianna take the fall, sending her to federal prison.
The Stephenson family went completely bankrupt.
Christa's husband Grant, crushed by the betrayal and debt, jumped off a Manhattan skyscraper.
Until her family was entirely destroyed, Christa couldn't understand. They had given the orphan a home, a trust fund, and endless love.
Why did Evelyn treat them like easy marks? Why did she use their kindness as a weapon to tear them apart?
Opening her eyes again, Christa saw the heavy velvet drapes letting in the pale morning light.
She was back seven years ago, on the exact day she first caught Evelyn texting that thug.
This time, Christa wouldn't scream or fight. She would cut off the money, drop the rules, and watch the parasite dig her own grave.
8.7
On the day of our mating ceremony, I wore a beautiful white dress, waiting to become the Luna of the pack. To ensure my Fated Mate, Kade, loved me for my soul and not my rank, I had hidden my true Alpha nature and lived as a fragile Omega.
But instead of my groom, my best friend Selena walked into the room. She flashed a fresh silver rejection rune on her wrist, smiling as she told me the ceremony was canceled. Kade had chosen her, the daughter of a powerful Beta, to secure his Alpha transition.
When I rushed to his study in disbelief, the words I heard through the cracked door shattered my heart completely.
"She's just an Omega. Her value doesn't compare to the loyalty of Selena's father."
Kade laughed coldly with his friends, calling our sacred bond a leash. He even planned to keep me trapped in the packhouse as a docile, broken toy under his and Selena's rule.
Every whispered promise of love was just a lie built for power. My disguise to test his true heart became the very excuse he used to discard me like trash. How could the man who promised to cherish my soul be so utterly ruthless?
Wiping my tears, I kicked the door open and publicly initiated the impossible: I, the "weak Omega," formally rejected him. After smashing a whiskey bottle over his head, I walked straight into the territory of his most feared rival—his older brother, Rowan. This time, I would tear his world apart.
7.4
As a princess who could not wield magic, Princess Daphne's only value to her kingdom was her arranged marriage. The task was simple, but when Daphne was kidnapped and brought to the cold mountains of Vramid, she realized that she was in over her head.
She had heard of these cursed mountains before― rocky terrain, freezing temperatures, and the land was ruled by a man feared by many within the continent.
King Atticus Heinvres, the blood-thirsty ruler of the North.
Even though she had never met him before, tales were spread of King Atticus's ruthlessness. Some said he was a monster, others claimed he was the devil himself, but whatever the story was, everyone knew of the man who had powers beyond anyone's imagination. He could topple armies and crumble nations with just one wave of his hand, aided by what others rumored to be a cursed obsidian ring.
No one outside of Vramid had ever met the fearsome king before. Not until Daphne.
However, upon meeting the formidable man, Daphne found out that the king might not really be the monster others had claimed him to be.
In fact, what was hidden under that obsidian shield could just be a diamond in the rough.
―
[Excerpt]
"Now... where should I put you both?" he asked casually, not expecting a reply. "It's regretful that I only have one chandelier."
"Underneath my bed? No, no, too dirty. My dust bunnies don't deserve this," Atticus mused to himself. "The mantlepiece? How about the vanity table? I suppose if I lop off one of your heads I could mount it over... Wife, which head do you want to stare at while you do your hair?"
"Atticus!" Daphne screamed. "I don't want any heads! Let them go."
"Fair enough." Atticus shrugged, and flicked his fingers.
There were two identical cracks as both necks snapped at once.
Daphne gasped, horrified. This man, her husband, had just killed two men with a flick of his finger, as though he was snuffing out candles.
"I told you to let them go!" Daphne cried out.
"Yes, I let them go," Atticus said. Then, his eyes darkened. "To receive divine judgment from the heavens."