*CHAPTER 1: I Hate Him*My name is Amara, and I hate Kael Black with everything in me.He was standing at the entrance of our class, SS3, with his leather jacket and that stupid smirk that made all the girls scream. But not me. I hated boys like him. Bad boys who think they own the world."Move," I said, trying to pass.He looked down at me, his yellowish-brown eyes strangely glowing. "You didn't greet me, little mouse.""I'm not your mouse. And I will never greet you."The whole class gasped. Nobody talks to Kael like that.He leaned closer, so close I could smell his cologne mixed with something wild, like forest. "You will, Amara. Soon you will be begging for me."I pushed him and ran to my seat, my heart beating like drum.That night, I was walking home through the bush path because I missed the school bus. It was full moon. The forest behind our school is always scary at night.Then I heard it. A growl.I turned. And what I saw made my blood freeze.Kael. But not Kael. His eyes were glowing yellow, his body was bigger, hairy, his teeth were fangs. He was half man, half wolf.A werewolf.He looked at me and said in a voice that was not human, "You shouldn't have come here, Amara. Now you are mine."

*Title: My Stepmother Sold Me To The Billionaire**Chapter 1: The Price Tag*The slap came first.Then the words."You useless thing! Do you know how much we have lost because of you?"I held my cheek, my skin burning. My stepmother, Mrs. Gloria, stood over me, her silk wrapper tied tight, eyes full of hate."I did not burn the soup," I whispered. "Mira did.""Mira? You dare mention my daughter's name? My daughter can never make a mistake!"Mira stood behind her, smiling. My stepsister. The perfect daughter. The one who had everything while I had nothing.I am Ella. 20 years old. And since my father died three years ago, I have been nothing but a maid in my own father's house.I scrub floors. I wash plates. I sleep in the small store at the back of the house. The room that rats visit at night.Tonight was different though. Two men in black suits were sitting in the parlor. Rich men. The kind of men who never came to our street.Gloria suddenly smiled. A fake smile that scared me more than her slap."Ella, come," she said sweetly. "These gentlemen are here for you."I frowned. "For me?"One of the men opened a file. "Ella Martins? 20? No boyfriend? No child?""What is going on?" My heart started beating fast.Gloria laughed. "Don't be scared, dear. I have found you a husband. A very rich husband. He will pay us 10 million naira, and all our debts will be cleared. You should thank me."My blood ran cold."What? You want to sell me?""It's not selling," she snapped, her fake smile gone. "It's marriage. Mr. Alessandro Knight needs a wife for one year. Just one year. After that, you are free. We get the money. Everyone wins.""I don't want to marry anyone! I don't even know him!""You don't have a choice!" She grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin. "You have lived in my house, eaten my food for years. Now it's time to pay me back. You will marry him tomorrow."I looked at Mira. She was still smiling. "Enjoy your billionaire, slave."Tears rolled down my eyes. No one was coming to save me. My father was gone. I was alone.The next morning, a black Rolls Royce parked in front of our small house.The door opened.And the most handsome, coldest man I had ever seen stepped out, looking straight at me like I was something he had just bought.

*CHAPTER 2: The Night He Saved Me*Luna’s heart was beating like a drum.The forest behind Ashwood High was forbidden. Everyone knew not to enter after 6pm. Rogues lived there — wolves without a pack. Wild. Dangerous.But her little brother’s bracelet was in there. He lost it during football practice. And Mama would kill her if she didn’t find it.“Just two minutes,” she whispered to herself, stepping past the broken fence.The trees swallowed the moonlight. It was too quiet.Then she heard it. A growl. Low. Deep. Hungry.Her blood froze.From the shadows, a huge black wolf stepped out. Its eyes were red. Not Kade’s pack. A rogue. It bared its teeth at her, saliva dripping.Luna couldn’t scream. Her legs wouldn’t move.The wolf lunged.“LUNA! DOWN!”A blur of grey and silver slammed into the rogue mid-air. Luna fell to the ground.She looked up — and saw him.A bigger wolf, beautiful, with silver-grey fur that glowed under the moon. His eyes were amber — eyes she knew.Kade.The two wolves fought. It was brutal and fast. The rogue was strong, but Kade was Alpha. He was born to lead. He bit the rogue’s neck and threw him against a tree. The rogue whimpered and ran into the darkness.Silence.Luna was shaking on the forest floor. The silver wolf turned to her, breathing hard. Its amber eyes softened.Then, like magic, the wolf shimmered. Bones cracked. Fur disappeared.And Kade Stone was standing there, shirtless, his chest heaving, a fresh scratch bleeding on his shoulder.“Luna,” he said, his voice rough. “I told you never to come into this forest.”She stared at him. “Your... your eyes... you’re... you’re one of them.”He stepped closer, gently pulling her up. His hand was warm, too warm. “Are you hurt?”“You saved me,” she whispered.He looked at her lips, then back at her eyes, like he was fighting himself. “I have always saved you, Luna. Since JSS2. You just never noticed.”“What do you mean?”Kade cupped her face. His thumb brushed her cheek. “The boy who beat up David when he pushed you? Me. The person who left medicine when you were sick last year? Me. I have loved you before you even knew my name.”Luna’s heart stopped. “Kade...”“But you can’t be mine,” he said suddenly, pulling away, pain in his eyes. “If you become mine, they will kill you. My world does not allow an Alpha to love a human girl.”He turned to leave.Luna, without thinking, grabbed his hand. “Then don’t let me go.”Kade froze. He slowly turned back. The moonlight made his amber eyes glow. He leaned in, his forehead touching hers.“Luna, if I kiss you tonight, there is no going back. You will be marked. Forever.”Her breath caught. “Then mark me.”*[End of Chapter 2]**Author’s Note for readers: Do you think Kade should kiss her? Comment YES or NO! 🐺❤️*