Until You

Until You

Love Egbejale

142.3k Words / Completed
1.1k
Hot
2k
Views

Introduction

In the prestigious halls of Emerald Crest Academy, Eros Belmonte is known as the "Ice Prince." Ever since a tragic accident claimed the lives of his mother and sister, he has closed himself off from the world, wearing his emotional detachment like an armor. His cold demeanor instills fear in his schoolmates, who keep their distance, leaving him isolated in his grief.

Everything changes when he meets Athena, an orphan and the unwanted adopted daughter of the Sanderson family. Like Eros, she has lost her mother and sister, and their shared pain creates an instant connection.

As Eros begins to thaw under Athena's warmth, their bond faces numerous challenges. Athena's troubled life and his own emotional struggles threaten to pull them apart. Together, they must face their pasts and decide if they can help each other heal.

Read More

Share the book to

facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsappreddit

About Author

Love Egbejale

Chapter 1

Five years ago

Athena

Awoken by the sharp sound of shattering glass and raised voices, I sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as the grim realization hit me: the war had begun again. Slowly, I swung my legs out of bed, grabbed the cordless phone, and slipped out of my room, careful to avoid making a sound as I crept towards the stairs.

I stepped cautiously, mindful of the third and fifth steps that always creaked, not wanting to alert my unstable father to my presence. I crouched on the sixth step, tears streaming down my face as I watched him assault my mother.

The last time I’d tried to intervene, I walked away with two bruised ribs and a black eye. My mother had made me promise never to get involved in their fights again.

I gripped the receiver tightly, fury building inside me as I debated what to do next. Going to the neighbors wasn’t an option—they were away for the summer, and the rest of the community kept their distance because of my father.

He wore the uniform of a police officer, pretending to uphold the law, but in reality, he was nothing more than a corrupt criminal. I knew for certain that he’d let a few criminals slip through his fingers on purpose, cozying up to the very people he was supposed to stop.

He was meant to protect us—his own family—but not a single day passed, since I was old enough to understand, where he didn’t push my mother and me around. It was his oppressive control that had driven my twin sister, Aurelia, to run away. And her escape had tragically cost her her life.

"You really think you can cheat on me and I won't find out, Hera?" my father, James, snarled, his eyes burning with rage.

I couldn’t help but snort at the irony. This was the same man who once told me he never planned to marry or have children. But he changed his mind when he realized that without an heir, his name would die with him.

So, he met my mother and married her—not out of love, but simply to have a son to carry on his name. Instead, he got two daughters—twins—me and my sister, Aurelia.

He didn’t love us. He didn’t even like my mother. It was painfully clear, though he never admitted it outright. But we knew—Aurelia and I knew—and we resented him for it.

There were moments when I resented my mother too, for staying with him despite knowing exactly the kind of man he was. She always said she loved him, but I could never understand how anyone could love a monster like James Carter.

Sure, he was handsome, and other women swooned when he flashed that charming smile, but they didn’t know what lurked beneath the surface. James Carter was a beast, through and through, no matter how much everyone else believed he was some sort of hero. I knew better.

Dad started seeing other women, and when Mom confronted him, he didn’t bother to deny it. He admitted the truth and had the audacity to blame her for his infidelity. That moment marked the beginning of all our troubles. Now, with Mom seeking revenge by doing the same, Dad was furious.

"Two can play this game, James," my mother spat. "What you can do, I can do better."

My father threw his head back and laughed, a sound that sent chills down my spine—it was the eerie calm before the storm. I knew something terrible was about to happen. My heart pounded in my chest as I quickly dialed the emergency number, pressed the receiver to my ear, and slipped quietly back to my room.

"199, what's your emergency?" a woman’s voice asked as the call connected.

"Um... Hello. My name is... Athena Carter. I... My mother is in danger. I'm scared," I whispered, my voice shaking as I clung to the phone like a lifeline.

"What's your location? Can you tell me what's happening?" the operator calmly asked.

"Um... The address is 124 Springwood Avenue. My father... My father is going to kill my mother." As I spoke, the gravity of the situation hit me, and tears burned my eyes. I fought to stay calm, focusing on breathing so I wouldn't pass out. "Please, hurry."

"Is he armed? Are you in a safe place?" The operator asked.

"Um... Well, he was... no..." My voice faltered just as a gunshot shattered the silence of the night. I froze. Somehow, the receiver didn't slip from my hand as my mind raced, wondering who'd taken the bullet.

I knew it wasn't my mother who fired the gun. She was too gentle, too forgiving - even after all the years of being my father's punching bag, she never retaliated. She forgave him, even without an apology from him. Until now.

"Hello? Are you there?" The operator asked again.

Tears streamed down my face. "Yes, he's armed." I whispered, my voice barely audible as I slid to the floor near the door. "He just... I just... gunshot."

Panic gripped me as I heard footsteps approaching the stairs. Scrambling to my feet, I darted across the room and hid under my bed, heart pounding in my chest. I knew he was coming for me, to check if I was awake.

"Please... Please hurry," I begged, my voice breaking with fear.

"Help is on the way. Please stay on the line if it's safe to do so," the woman advised, her voice steady amidst my terror.

I gasped as the door to my bedroom creaked open, revealing my father standing ominously in the doorway. I wanted to hang up the call, but fear gripped me too tightly to move. My blood thundered in my ears, and my heart pounded so fiercely that I was certain it would explode.

I desperately wished this was all just a nightmare, something I could jolt awake from. But deep down, I knew this was my reality—a reality I had endured for twelve long years, and tonight, it would end.

“I know you're awake, Athena,” my father drawled as he stepped into the room. “Come out, come out, wherever you are,” he sang in a chilling tone.

I squeezed my eyes shut, praying for a miracle. None came. His cold hands gripped my ankles, and I let out a blood-curdling scream as he dragged me from under the bed. My sobs grew louder when I saw the blood smeared across his face. I begged him not to kill me as he yanked me to my feet.

“You’re destined to end up just like your mother, Athena, and I can’t allow that,” he muttered, his voice low and menacing, clicking his tongue as the back of his hand brushed against my face. “The world doesn’t need someone like you. I need to put an end to it.”

“The world will be better off without you, James Carter,” I shot back, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. “It was because of you that Aurelia ran away. It’s your fault she’s dead.”

James let out a cold, hollow laugh that made my blood run cold. “No, my dear. Aurelia died because she thought she deserved better than me. She believed she could escape, but in the end, it cost her everything.”

I drew in a sharp breath as his words settled over me like a dark cloud. I didn’t need him to spell it out to grasp the horrifying truth: the possibility that he had orchestrated his own daughter’s death in a hit-and-run now seemed glaringly evident, even without a direct confession.

The lack of further investigation into the case suddenly made perfect sense—it had been quietly swept under the rug. Though I couldn’t be absolutely certain, after everything that had unfolded tonight, I wouldn’t put it past him to have played a role in my twin sister’s death.

Whether he had done it himself or sent someone else to carry out the crime, one thing was clear—he wouldn’t have risked leaving any loose ends. Claiming he wanted his “beloved” daughter to rest in peace, he had likely manipulated the police into shutting down the case, ensuring nothing could tie him to her tragic end.

“You’re such a beautiful girl, Athy, and it’s a shame it has to end this way, but there’s no other option,” he said, his hand brushing gently against my cheek.

“And you really think people won’t suspect you of these crimes?” I asked, my voice laced with disgust. “Who will you blame it on?”

“Who else? Brock and his gang, of course,” he replied, a smile creeping across his face. “After all, they’ve tried to kill me before, and it’s all on record. I have my ways of ensuring I won’t get caught.”

“You’re a—” My words faded as the distant sound of sirens approached, trailing off into silence. I let out a sigh of relief.

James furrowed his brows in confusion as he released me and turned towards the window overlooking the street, giving me the chance to grab the pocket knife I had left on my bedside table.

I quickly hid it behind my back as he cursed under his breath and then spun around to glare at me with murderous intent.

"Did you call the police?" he spat.

"No, maybe the neighbors did," I replied in a surprisingly steady voice. "You woke the whole community when you shot mom."

"I don't believe you," he hissed through gritted teeth, reaching for his gun. At that moment, I lunged forward and stabbed him in the chest with the knife, momentarily destabilizing him enough to make my escape.

I was almost at the door when a shot rang out. I cried out, collapsing to the floor as a searing pain sliced through my thigh. He'd shot me and was preparing to take another shot when a loud voice commanded him to freeze from the doorway right in front of me.

“Drop the gun, James,” commanded his partner, Ben Darwin. “Put your hands behind your head.”

James switched on the safety, let the gun fall, and complied with Ben's instructions, but his eyes remained fixed on me as a paramedic worked to treat my injuries.

“You’re under arrest for the murder of Hera Carter,” Ben announced while cuffing James. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, an attorney will be provided for you. Do you understand?”

“I don’t need a fucking attorney,” James snarled, maintaining his glare on me as he was escorted out of the room.

I realized this wasn’t the end of my battle with James. But for now, he would face the consequences for what he had done to my mother. I would make sure of it.

Comments

  • Visitor

    I just stared the reading the story and I’m already engulfed to it. You can help but feel pity for Athena and the way her life started out and the to be drawn into Eros cold and mysterious persona.

    11/04/2025 21:59

You Might Like 😍

The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride

The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride

Completed · Riley Above Story
On the day Evelyn thought Liam would propose, he shocked her by getting down on one knee—for her stepsister, Samantha. As if that betrayal wasn’t enough, Evelyn learned the cruel truth: her parents had already decided to sell one daughter’s future to a dangerous man: the infamous War God Alpha Alexander, who was rumored to be scarred and crippled after a recent accident. And the bride could’t be their precious daughter Samantha. However, when the "ugly and crippled" Alpha revealed his true self—an impossibly handsome billionaire with no trace of injury—Samantha had a change of heart. She was ready to dump Liam and take Evelyn's place as the family daughter who should marry Alexander.
Yet Alexander made his decision clear to the world: “Evelyn is the only woman I will ever marry.”
Accidentally Yours

Accidentally Yours

Ongoing · Merffy Kizzmet
“Who the hell are you and why are you tied to my bed?”

Lola Marlowe’s morning-after is a disaster. She’s got a killer hangover, zero memory of Burning Man, and a half-naked, sculpted stranger tied to her bed with her own lavender silk ropes. To make matters infinitely worse, the furious (and frustratingly handsome) “accidental hostage” is Enzo Marchesi, Vegas’s most notorious mafia Don.

For Enzo, this is the ultimate security breach. But the fiery, unpredictable tattoo artist is the most intriguing thing to happen to him in years. To stop his crew from “neutralizing” the threat, he makes an impulsive claim: she’s his fiancée.

Thrust into a world of high-stakes lies and feral attraction, they must navigate rival families and their own explosive chemistry.

One wrong move sparked it. Now neither of them wants out.
1.2m Views
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother

Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother

Ongoing · Harper Rivers
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother.

"What is wrong with me?

Why does being near him make my skin feel too tight, like I’m wearing a sweater two sizes too small?

It’s just newness, I tell myself firmly.

He’s my boyfirend’s brother.

This is Tyler’s family.

I’m not going to let one cold stare undo that.

**

As a ballet dancer, My life looks perfect—scholarship, starring role, sweet boyfriend Tyler. Until Tyler shows his true colors and his older brother, Asher, comes home.

Asher is a Navy veteran with battle scars and zero patience. He calls me "princess" like it's an insult. I can't stand him.

When My ankle injury forces her to recover at the family lake house, I‘m stuck with both brothers. What starts as mutual hatred slowly turns into something forbidden.

I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother.

**

I hate girls like her.

Entitled.

Delicate.

And still—

Still.

The image of her standing in the doorway, clutching her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders, trying to smile through the awkwardness, won’t leave me.

Neither does the memory of Tyler. Leaving her here without a second thought.

I shouldn’t care.

I don’t care.

It’s not my problem if Tyler’s an idiot.

It’s not my business if some spoiled little princess has to walk home in the dark.

I’m not here to rescue anyone.

Especially not her.

Especially not someone like her.

She’s not my problem.

And I’ll make damn sure she never becomes one.

But when my eyes fell on her lips, I wanted her to be mine.
The Prison Project

The Prison Project

Ongoing · Bethany Donaghy
The government's newest experiment in criminal rehabilitation - sending thousands of young women to live alongside some of the most dangerous men held behind bars...

Can love tame the untouchable? Or will it only fuel the fire and cause chaos amongst the inmates?

Fresh out of high school and suffocating in her dead-end hometown, Margot longs for her escape. Her reckless best friend, Cara, thinks she's found the perfect way out for them both - The Prisoner Project - a controversial program offering a life-changing sum of money in exchange for time spent with maximum-security inmates.

Without hesitation, Cara rushes to sign them up.

Their reward? A one-way ticket into the depths of a prison ruled by gang leaders, mob bosses, and men the guards wouldn't even dare to cross...

At the centre of it all, meets Coban Santorelli - a man colder than ice, darker than midnight, and as deadly as the fire that fuels his inner rage. He knows that the project may very well be his only ticket to freedom - his only ticket to revenge on the one who managed to lock him up and so he must prove that he can learn to love…

Will Margot be the lucky one chosen to help reform him?

Will Coban be capable of bringing something to the table other than just sex?

What starts off as denial may very well grow in to obsession which could then fester in to becoming true love…

A temperamental romance novel.
From Substitute To Queen

From Substitute To Queen

Completed · Hannah Moore
For three years, Sable loved Alpha Darrell with everything she had, spending her salary to support their household while being called an orphan and gold-digger. But just as Darrell was about to mark her as his Luna, his ex-girlfriend returned, texting: "I'm not wearing underwear. My plane lands soon—pick me up and fuck me immediately."

Heartbroken, Sable discovered Darrell having sex with his ex in their bed, while secretly transferring hundreds of thousands to support that woman.

Even worse was overhearing Darrell laugh to his friends: "She's useful—obedient, doesn't cause trouble, handles housework, and I can fuck her whenever I need relief. She's basically a live-in maid with benefits." He made crude thrusting gestures, sending his friends into laughter.

In despair, Sable left, reclaimed her true identity, and married her childhood neighbor—Lycan King Caelan, nine years her senior and her fated mate. Now Darrell desperately tries to win her back. How will her revenge unfold?

From substitute to queen—her revenge has just begun!
The Lycan Prince’s Puppy

The Lycan Prince’s Puppy

Ongoing · chavontheauthor
“You’re mine, little puppy,” Kylan growled against my neck.
“Soon enough, you’ll be begging for me. And when you do—I’ll use you as I see fit, and then I’ll reject you.”


When Violet Hastings begins her freshman year at Starlight Shifters Academy, she only wants two things—honor her mother’s legacy by becoming a skilled healer for her pack and get through the academy without anyone calling her a freak for her strange eye condition.

Things take a dramatic turn when she discovers that Kylan, the arrogant heir to the Lycan throne who has made her life miserable from the moment they met, is her mate.

Kylan, known for his cold personality and cruel ways, is far from thrilled. He refuses to accept Violet as his mate, yet he doesn’t want to reject her either. Instead, he sees her as his puppy, and is determined to make her life even more of a living hell.

As if dealing with Kylan’s torment isn’t enough, Violet begins to uncover secrets about her past that change everything she thought she knew. Where does she truly come from? What is the secret behind her eyes? And has her whole life been a lie?
Mated by Contract to the Alpha

Mated by Contract to the Alpha

Completed · CalebWhite
My perfect life shattered in a single heartbeat.
William—my devastatingly handsome, wealthy werewolf fiancé destined to become Delta—was supposed to be mine forever. After five years together, I was ready to walk down the aisle and claim my happily ever after.
Instead, I found him with her. And their son.
Betrayed, jobless, and drowning in my father's medical bills, I hit rock bottom harder than I ever imagined possible. Just when I thought I'd lost everything, salvation came in the form of the most dangerous man I'd ever encountered.
Damien Sterling—future Alpha of the Silver Moon Shadow Pack and ruthless CEO of Sterling Group—slid a contract across his desk with predatory grace.
“Sign this, little doe, and I'll give you everything your heart desires. Wealth. Power. Revenge. But understand this—the moment you put pen to paper, you become mine. Body, soul, and everything in between.”
I should have run. Instead, I signed my name and sealed my fate.
Now I belong to the Alpha. And he's about to show me just how wild love can be.
Crowned by Fate

Crowned by Fate

Completed · Tina S
“You think I’d share my mate? Just stand by and watch while you fuck another woman and have her kids?”
“She’d just be a Breeder, you would be the Luna. Once she’s pregnant, I wouldn’t touch her again.” my mate Leon’s jaw tightened.
I laughed, a bitter, broken sound.
“You’re unbelievable. I’d rather accept your rejection than live like that.”


As a girl without a wolf, I left my mate and my pack behind.
Among humans, I survived by becoming a master of the temporary: drifting job to job… until I became the best bartender in a dusty Texas town.
That’s where Alpha Adrian found me.
No one could resist the charming Adrian, and I joined his mysterious pack hidden deep in the desert.
The Alpha King Tournament, held once every four years, had begun. Over fifty packs from across North America were competing.
The werewolf world was on the verge of a revolution. That’s when I saw Leon again...
Torn between two Alphas, I had no idea that what awaited us wasn’t just a competition—but a series of brutal, unforgiving trials.
Author Note:New book out now! The River Knows Her Name
Mystery, secrets, suspense—your next page-turner is here.
The Biker's Fate

The Biker's Fate

Completed · Piper Davenport
"You are absolutely my fucking woman, Dani. Got me?"
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Dani," he pressed. "Do you get me?"
"No, Austin, I don't," I admitted as I pulled my robe closed again and sat up. "You confuse me."
He dragged his hands down his face. "Tell me what's on your mind."
I sighed. "You're everything my parents warned me against. You're secretive, but you're also honest. I feel wholly protected by you, but then you scare me more than anyone I've ever known. You're a bad boy, but when I dated a so-called good one, he turned out to be the devil, so, yeah, I don't get you because you're not what I expected. You drive me crazier than anyone I've ever met, but then you make me feel complete. I'm feeling things I don't quite know how to process and that makes me want to run. I don't want to give up something that might be really, really good, but I also don't want to be stupid and fall for a boy just because he's super pretty and makes me come."
Danielle Harris is the daughter of an overprotective police chief and has led a sheltered life. As a kindergarten teacher, she's as far removed from the world of Harleys and bikers as you could get, but when she's rescued by the sexy and dangerous Austin Carver, her life is changed forever.
Although Austin 'Booker' Carver is enamored by the innocent Dani, he tries to keep the police chief's daughter at arm's length. But when a threat is made from an unexpected source, he finds himself falling hard and fast for the only woman who can tame his wild heart.
Will Booker be able to find the source of the threat before it's too late?
Will Dani finally give her heart to a man who's everything she's been warned about?
Goddess Of The Underworld.

Goddess Of The Underworld.

Ongoing · sheridan.hartin
Left at a pack border with a name and a stubborn heartbeat, Envy grows into the sharpest kind of survivor, an orphaned warrior who knows how to hold a line and keep moving. Love isn’t in the plan…until four alpha wolves with playboy reputations and inconveniently soft hands decide the girl who won’t bow is the only queen they’ll ever take. Their mate. The one they have waited for. Xavier, Haiden, Levi, and Noah are gorgeous, lethal, and anything but perfect and Envy isn’t either. She’s changing. First into hell hound, Layah at her heels and fire in her veins. Then into what the realm has been waiting for, a Goddess of the Underworld, dragging her mates down to hell with her. Then finally into lycan princess, stronger, faster, the moon finally answering back, giving her exactly what she needs to protect her family.

When the veil between the Divine, the Living, and the Dead begins to crack, Envy is thrust beneath with a job she can’t drop: keep the worlds from bleeding together, shepherd the lost, and make ordinary into armor, breakfasts, bedtime, battle plans. Peace lasts exactly one lullaby. This is the story of a border pup who became a goddess by choosing her family; of four imperfect alphas learning how to stay; of cake, iron, and daylight negotiations. Steamy, fierce, and full of heart, Goddess of the Underworld is a reverse harem, found-family paranormal romance where love writes the rules and keeps three realms from falling apart.
691.7k Views
Accardi

Accardi

Completed · Allison Franklin
“I thought we discussed this earlier, Weakness? I warned you. His death is on your hands.”
“I thought you said you were done chasing me?” Gen mocked.
“I am done chasing you.”
Before she could formulate a witty remark, Matteo threw her down. She landed hard on her back atop his dining room table. She tried to sit up when she noticed what he was doing. His hands were working on his belt. It came free of his pants with a violent yank. She collapsed back on her elbows, her mouth gaping open at the display. His face was a mask of sheer determination, his eyes were a dark gold swimming with heat and desire. His hands wrapped around her thighs and pulled her to the edge of the table. He glided his fingers up her thighs and hooked several around the inside of her panties. His knuckles brushed her dripping sex.
“You’re soaking wet, Genevieve. Tell me, was it me that made you this way or him?” his voice told her to be careful with her answer. His knuckles slid down through her folds and she threw her head back as she moaned. “Weakness?”
“You…” she breathed.


Genevieve loses a bet she can’t afford to pay. In a compromise, she agrees to convince any man her opponent chooses to go home with her that night. What she doesn’t realize when her sister’s friend points out the brooding man sitting alone at the bar, is that man won’t be okay with just one night with her. No, Matteo Accardi, Don of one of the largest gangs in New York City doesn’t do one night stands. Not with her anyway.
535.4k Views
The mafia princess return

The mafia princess return

Ongoing · Tonje Unosen
Talia have been living with her mother, stepsister and Stepfather for years. One day she finally get away from them. Suddenly she learn she have more family out there and she have many people that actually love her, something she have never felt before! At least not as she can remember. She have to learn to trust others, get her new brothers to accept her for who she is!
519.9k Views
Take you Fall into Fantasy.

Download AnyStories App to discover more Fantasy Stories.