My Dear Duke(BL) - Chapter 2: The Past(1)

Anton is a great-grandfather. He is living quite a happy life, despite his advanced age and declining health… until a group of cultivator bandits moves into the area. The nearby guardians of the area, the Order of Ninety-Nine Stars, are unable to track them down as they continue to ravage nearby towns. During one desperate winter Anton is out on a hunt when his family- his entire village- is killed or taken as slaves by the bandits. He lacks the strength to fight them, and he wasn’t even present for their arrival to die with his loved ones. At the pit of his despair, he wonders if he ever had any chance to change things. What could he even do? He cannot even pull his best bow, and his eyesight is failing. If he had been a cultivator… perhaps there might have been a chance, but he was decades- perhaps even most of his life- too late.Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge (2022)Notes on cultivation levels:There are five general stages of cultivation, though the fifth is extremely rare. Each cultivation style might have their own name for the stages.1. Body Tempering2. Spirit Building/ occasionally System Creation (Ninety-Nine Stars)3. Constellation Formation (Ninety-Nine Stars)4. Life Transformation/Galaxy Construction (Ninety-Nine Stars)5. Ascension

Maria is the only daughter of Jackson, the Alpha of the prestigious Blue Moon Pack in Aberdeen, Scotland. Her mother, the Luna, was revered for her grace and strength. But despite her lineage, Maria's life has been far from perfect.At seventeen, she couldn't shift into her wolf or sense her fated mate, a secret her parents kept hidden out of shame in the pack.By nineteen, still unable to shift, she was forced into an engagement with Bernard, her childhood friend and the future Alpha of their pack, who already had a mate only Maria knows about.Maria and Bernard attended the same college, where their engagement was the talk of the campus, earning Maria both admiration and envy.Yet, behind the smiles, Maria's heart belonged to James Brooklyn, the next Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack—the sworn rivals of her people.Everything took a darker turn on the night of her engagement to Bernard when her parents were brutally murdered.Will Maria survive the deadly power struggles within her pack, uncover the identity of her true mate, and claim the life she deserves?Or will the curse of the Blue Moon destroy her and everyone she loves after finding out who killed her parents?

The pain from the gunshot was nothing compared to the pain she felt in her heart as she realized she would be losing not only her life but also her unborn baby. With eyes that beheld great resentment, she looked at the man, the father of the child and her cousin's arms in arms.“Why?” There was nothing else to say. Eyes conveyed everything that was needed to be said,She didn't deserve such an end.He knew this.But the man had an impassive look. As if years of their time spent together meant nothing to him. Years of her showing him with affection meant nothing to him.Just one world“Fate”...As she opened her eyes, she found herself the very night this tragedy started. The day she got married to David.The face was the same, the reception was the same, and the room was the same. But the soul was not the naive inexperienced stay-at-home wife. But a betrayed woman who burnt in the flame of vengeance.

In Xu Yun Yao’s previous life, she overcame all obstacles barring her way just to become a queen. However, under the suppression of several ministers headed by Tang Song Nian she failed in the end. Just out of reach with bitter hatred in her heart, only to wake up and find herself reborn as the daughter of Tang Song Nian, as she died early.

Xu Yun Yao: I will trample you! You old fart! You dare to oppose this palace!

Tang Song Nian (laughing with joy): Aiya, our daughter’s boldness is truly too powerful.

Xu Yun Yao: I will kick you! I will bite you! You dare lead those ministers to slander this palace!

Tang Song Nian (gratified smile): I knew little treasure loves father best.

Xu Yun Yao: …….

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