Novel & Cerita Southern Gothic

I’d been Albert’s Luna for ten years. Everyone said we were the perfect fated pair. That day, he held me close and said softly, “Grace, I’ve planned a seven-day trip for you down south. You need to relax.” I found it strange. Albert was fiercely possessive; I’d never been away from him for more than three days. It wasn't until I overheard our pup, Leo, asking him, “Dad, are you and Auntie Maria going to be mates? What about Mom?” Maria. Albert’s childhood sweetheart. Albert just chuckled. “It’s just for show. Auntie Maria lost her mate. As her Alpha, I have a duty to look after her.” Then his voice dropped. “Be a good boy, Leo, and keep this a secret. Don’t tell your mom, and I’ll buy you that toy you wanted.” I heard everything, but I didn’t confront him. Instead, I called my former mentor, the Director of the Institute for Ancient Lycan Bloodlines. “About your earlier offer… I’m accepting it. I’ll be at the Southern Pack in three days.” Then, I sent a message to the pack’s Head Elder: “I'm formally rejecting our mate bond.”

My mom calls me on Friday. "Don't forget to attend the family dinner tomorrow. Your brother loves shrimps, so you should buy more of those at the seafood market in the southern district. "Your sister-in-law loves lamb chops. Why don't you go scour for more in the eastern district? Also, your nephew loves imported strawberries, so you mustn't forget them now." I say yes to everything. But as soon as I end the call, I see a new message in the family's group chat. "I already told Alan the things that we love to eat. It's hard for you all to earn money, so you shouldn't buy anything at all." One second later, the message is swiftly deleted. Still, the sight renders me stunned. I've been married for two years. During every Saturday dinner, I'm the one putting in money and effort just to organize said dinner. I've been thinking that I don't have to count every little favor, seeing as we're family and all. But it seems that I've already become an outsider a long time ago. Well then, I shall not be attending the family dinner this time.

Everyone in southern Italy knew that Lorenzo Moretti loved me like a madman. And yet he had been keeping a much younger woman in Naples. They said she looked just like I had years ago. He told people she was only a reminder of the woman he had once loved most. He also gave strict orders that no one was to let me hear about her. Until the day I found out I was pregnant. I went to his office to tell him the news myself, only to stop outside the door when I heard a young woman’s voice from inside. “Lorenzo… am I only here because I remind you of her?” The door was slightly ajar. Through the gap, I saw a young woman who looked too much like me, wrapped in his jacket and holding his glass. I stood there, barely breathing. Then I heard him answer. “Don’t compare yourself to her.” “She could never be what you are.” I turned and walked away without making a sound. That night, I called my mother. “Mother, I’ve made up my mind.” She was silent for a moment. “I want a fire,” I said. “Something no one survives. By the time it’s over, Sophia Moretti needs to be dead to the world.”

I've never been lucky. I lost my parents at a young age to false treason claims against the Redwood Pack. My cruel uncle Storm assumed my father's role of Alpha in the Pack, and ever since he became Alpha, my life has been a living hell. When he brings news of the Northern Alpha King hosting a ball to pick his Luna of the North, I know my chances are slim and didn't want to go. But my uncle Storm charges me to act as a spy for him. Gather Intel on the runnings of the Northern Pack and bring to him. Failure to do so? He'll have my head. When I meet Alpha King Elijah Lahiz, King of the North under weird circumstances, the mate bond snaps into place, and we're bonded to each other. However, after a night of passion, Elijah acts like I don't exist and picks my best friend, Raya as his Luna. Distraught and feeling betrayed, I run away to the South and into the patient arms of the Southern King Jeremiah, to escape my uncle's wrath. Jeremiah propositions an alliance to take down both my uncle and Elijah. But there's a problem. A huge one, really. I'm carrying Alpha Elijah's child.

Anastasia Morbelle's life has been a series of hardships and betrayals. Sold as a slave by her own family, she finds herself at the mercy of the ruthless Alpha Sirius of the Nightshade pack. But when a fleeting moment of passion leads her to believe she has found her mate in Sirius, her world is shattered when he chooses another as his mate. Heartbroken and pregnant with Sirius's child, Anastasia flees into the treacherous Southern forest, only to be rescued by the enigmatic Alpha king, Alpha Marthias Martinez of the Cloudfall pack. As she begins to find solace and love in Marthias' arms, she must also navigate the dangerous situation when Sirius's mate leaves him and he comes looking for Anastasia. "I will make sure to find her and make her mine once again. Even if it's the last thing I do." Caught in a web of love, betrayal, and danger, Anastasia must find the strength to protect herself and her unborn child while facing the relentless pursuit of Alpha Sirius. "Don't worry mi'lady, from now, every atom of my body will be dedicated to your protection and that of your baby." Will she find true love and happiness with Marthias, or will the shadows of her past continue to haunt her?

Everyone in the Rossi family knows that their Don, Giovanni Rossi, loves me, Rebecca Costa, more than anyone else. Ever since we got together, he has stopped attending any social events that involve other women. We promised to marry once he returns from negotiating a dangerous arms deal in Aelfana. He was supposed to come back a week before the wedding, but instead, he returned on the eve of the wedding with Rosa Bianchi, his stepsister, in his arms. Rosa was unconscious, and traces of intimacy were visible on her skin. Giovanni kneeled before me, his expression remorseful. "Rebecca… I was drugged. I never meant to betray you. When Rosa threw herself at me, I thought she was you." And I believed him. At least, I did until I overheard a conversation in the changing room backstage at our wedding. One of his men asks, in disbelief, "Did you really mistake her for Rebecca?" "I did for the first night. But for the rest of the week… well, a man ought to have his bit of freedom before getting married." My fingers clench around my phone. In my inbox sits an unopened message—a marriage invitation from Angelo Calavaro, the most enigmatic Don in southern Ilya's underworld. I know what I have to do.

“My body betrays me every time you come near. Stop making my wolf feel like you're her entire world, while my heart screams that you are nothing but my destruction!” – Rhea Valleria. “This bond pulls me toward you like a curse. I hate you, yet my instincts won't rest until I’ve claimed you." – Leon Vareth. RHEA VALLERIA lost everything overnight. Her family, her home, and the entire Valerian Pack were wiped out by the terrible Moon Rot plague. As the only helpless survivor, Rhea was forced into captivity by the Targarion Pack under the dictatorial rule of Alpha Leon Vareth after witnessing something she should not have seen. LEON VARETH is the definition of ambition and cruelty. As CEO of Vareth Corp and Alpha of the strongest pack in the Southern region, he allows no one to stand in his way to eternal glory, even if it means performing the cursed Eternal Blood Ritual. To him, weakness is a sin. And when he discovers a lowly girl from a dying clan spying on his darkest secret, there is only one solution: eliminate her. However, as his hands grip her neck to take her last breath, fate surprises them with an inescapable Mate bond.

“You will marry him.” Kiva’s breath shook as she stared at her father. “Please,” she whispered. “Don’t do this.” Her brother only laughed. “You should be grateful anyone would even want an omega like you.” Blamed for her twin sister’s death and treated like a servant in her own home, Kiva has spent her entire life unwanted and impossible to love. Until Fabian. The Alpha of the Southern Gates is the only person who has ever looked at her gently. So when he asks her to marry him, Kiva thinks her life is finally changing. She is wrong. Because the moment Damien Orion arrives at the Gates, everything begins to unravel. The Decaulion. Alpha of all Alphas. A man feared like a monster. And the moment he touches Kiva, he looks at her like he has been searching for her his entire life. Now trapped between betrayal, ancient secrets, and a prophecy tied to her hidden bloodline, Kiva is pulled toward a dangerous Alpha whose darkness should terrify her… but somehow feels like home. Because Damien has spent years dreaming about a girl hidden behind a veil. And he is done letting her disappear.

My boyfriend, Nick, has finally returned after a decade-long battle in the south. I'm overjoyed when he tells me he'll marry me and make me his Luna. At that moment, I feel like I've finally found my home. But after getting pregnant, I accidentally come across a treasure trove of videos of him and my best friend, Sherry, in bed together. His journal also details his love for her. I log in to his extra WhatsApp account. Sherry has already blocked his number, but he still sends her messages of love—confession videos, words, and voice messages. I head to the hospital for a prenatal checkup. That's where I see My Alpha, Nick, getting on one knee before Sherry with a bouquet in one hand and his family heirloom—a moonstone necklace—in the other. He proposes to her. "I gave up on my dream to conquer the southern packs to return and see you, Sherry. I only have one goal—to marry you! Our child can't be without a father, and I'll mark you once you say yes! I'll make you my Luna!" he says. I turn away and make an appointment for an abortion. Then, I leave. Unexpectedly, he abandons Sherry and their child to come after me like a madman.

Two weeks before the sacred Red Moon Rite, Thalira Whitmore was preparing for the night to finally be claimed by her boyfriend. Instead, her own sister destroyed her face with acid. Once admired as the Alpha's quiet and graceful daughter, Thalira became the Pack's shame overnight— a wolfless girl hidden behind scars, cruel whispers, and pity-filled stares. While her sister stole the life that was supposed to be hers, including the man Thalira loved. She was forced to live in the shadows, hated and forgotten by everyone. Until one reckless night changes everything. Humiliated during a school trip, Thalira slipped away from the crowd and found herself face-to-face with a dangerous stranger whose touch felt like sin itself. For the first time since the acid attack, a man looks at her without disgust plastered on his face. One forbidden night in his arms left her breathless. By morning, he was gone but left her a letter. "The next time we meet, you'll die." Weeks later Thalira found out she was pregnant. Unable to say who the father is, she was locked away till she gave birth. After giving birth, she was told that the child was a stillborn and died. Months later during the peace summit between the southern council and the northern territory, Kael and Thalira met again and recognized each other. Fueled by the hatred he had for her father, Kael requested Thalira as a prize for the peace treaty.