The Young Master in the Shadows - Chapter 17: Lili’s thoughts

“Who the hell is that?” I whispered more to myself than my assistant Zeeb Elijah who stood next to me at the Golden Shifter Pack Annual dinner.“No,” Zeeb seethed Vehemently. “Don't even think about it, Lucian. That is the Rogue Alpha Conri Dolf. He was exiled from the pack and only shows himself during the annual dinner as demanded by the pack elders. It is said he killed his mate and went rogue. I am warning you, Lucian, that is one forbidden territory that you can venture into.”**********************************Billionaire CEO Lucian Freki is a name that generates all kinds of feelings amongst the Golden Shifter Pack of Alaska. Tall, handsome, wealthy bachelor, arrogant, and a bastard playboy who refused to settle down.Until his eyes land on Rogue Alpha Conri Dolf…Lucian is drawn in by Conri’s powerful demeanor and his deep ocean eyes. According to the pack, Conri was exiled after the death of his mate and he went rogue. He lives alone in the deep mountains of Alaska and rumor has it that he is volatile and kills anyone who dares approach him.Just one look made Lucian crave Conri. He begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate his desires and possess Conri. Lucian will stop at nothing to get Conri back in the golden pack, amidst the lurking enemies that want Conri dead and discover the secrets behind his exile.

“M... Marissa! Are they my kids?” Rafael's eyes weren't moving away from the adorable kids' faces.“No, Rafael. They are not,” Marissa said with a fake smile, “They aren't yours. Remember?” she batted her lashes quite dramatically, “We were never married!”Marissa Aaron’s elder sister Valerie Aaron jilted her blind boyfriend on her wedding day and ran off. For face-saving, Merissa's family pleaded to her to marry Raphael Sinclair.The irony? She was not allowed to tell her blind husband that she was not Valerie but Merissa Aaron.On the day of Raphael's successful eye surgery, Marissa got to know that Valerie was back to take her rightful place as Sinclaire’s daughter-in-law.Marissa tried explaining to her husband that she was the one married to him, but he did not believe her. Instead of any more convincing, heartbroken Merissa decided to leave the city without telling him, her secret.Raphael Sinclair was the classic definition of drop-dead gorgeous and was the only heir of the Sinclair group of industries.What would he do when he came to know that all this time the woman who offered him, her love and her body was not Valerie but her younger sister Marissa Aaron?How would he react when he came to know that he was the father of the babies Marissa was carrying in her womb?Would he go after Marissa and win her back?And the million-dollar question!Would Marissa ever be able to forgive him and love him again?

Eighteen-year-old Chen Yuan experienced the first love of his life, but it was an online relationship.His girlfriend was lively and cute, quirky and mischievous, and very good at making people happy. Chen Yuan thought she must also be an adorable girl in real life... As it turned out, when she appeared, she was wearing high heels, with an elegant and intellectual demeanor, and was his university professor?

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.