where did the vikings come from before scandinavia

Before my boyfriend, August Cadwell, marked me, we went to register our mate bond at the Pack Affairs Department. Without a word of explanation, he unexpectedly had someone throw me out of the office. Then he walked in with his childhood sweetheart. He didn’t even blink when he saw me sitting there on the ground, shaking with disbelief. "Hailey's pup needs to be part of the Aurelis pack. The best and quickest method is for her to register a mate bond with a werewolf from the Aurelis pack. As soon as we sever the mate bond, I'll form a mate bond with you." Everyone assumed the lovesick version of me would wait just one more month for him. After all, I'd already waited seven long years. But that night, I did something unexpected too. I accepted my parents' arranged mate bond and quietly left for the Lymerian pack, disappearing from his life entirely. Three years later, I returned to my original pack to visit my family. My mate, Ryder Weyland, was now the lycan chairman. Because of an urgent council meeting, he arranged for someone to collect me from the airport. I never imagined that “someone” would be August. The moment he spotted me, his eyes immediately landed on the sparkling bracelet on my wrist. "Isn't this a knockoff of the bracelet Ryder Weyland, the lycan chairman, spent two million dollars on for his mate? Didn't expect you to turn this vain after just a few years. "You've caused enough chaos, haven't you? It's time to return. Hailey's pup is now of school age. You can take on the responsibility of pick-ups and drop-offs." I gently ran my fingers over the bracelet on my wrist. Little did he know that this was the cheapest one Ryder had ever given me.

On my eighteenth birthday, the High King summoned the heirs of the four great clans—the Vampires, the Werewolves, the High Serpent Clan, and the Merfolk. He laid their portraits before me and said, "Choose one to be your bondmate." I did not hesitate. I pointed to Damon—the werewolf with no noble bloodline, born in a forgotten corner of the realm. The entire court erupted in disbelief. Everyone knew who I used to love. Alpha Iris—the heir of the most powerful Lycan bloodline. For seven years, I chased him with blind devotion. No matter how harshly he treated me, I never gave up. I confessed to him over and over, sometimes right in the royal court. I even performed a blood-binding ritual—slitting my wrist—to earn the right to marry him. In my previous life, I got what I wanted—I married him and we performed the mate bonding ceremony. With that union, he inherited the High King's resources and rose to become the ruler of all four clans. However, what I did not expect was that after our wedding, he turned around and marked my adoptive sister. My parents were furious and sent her away. From that day on, Iris hated me with a vengeance. He surrounded himself with women who all looked eerily like her. One by one, they came—each more vicious than the last. With his silent approval, they tore me down, piece by piece, until I was nothing more than a joke—no longer the queen I once was. The suffering pushed me into severe depression. Only suppressants keep my wolf form from spiraling out of control. Until one day, my medication was replaced with a slow-acting poison. He was the one who did it. I died alone, locked away in the cold palace, a child still growing inside me. However, fate gave me another chance. In this life, I would not make the same mistake. When the High King once again asked me to choose a partner for the marriage alliance, I chose Damon—the one no one ever noticed—without even blinking.

On my eighteenth birthday, the High King summoned the heirs of the four great clans—the Vampires, the Werewolves, the High Serpent Clan, and the Merfolk. He laid their portraits before me and said, "Choose one to be your bondmate." I did not hesitate. I pointed to Damon—the werewolf with no noble bloodline, born in a forgotten corner of the realm. The entire court erupted in disbelief. Everyone knew who I used to love. Alpha Iris—the heir of the most powerful Lycan bloodline. For seven years, I chased him with blind devotion. No matter how harshly he treated me, I never gave up. I confessed to him over and over, sometimes right in the royal court. I even performed a blood-binding ritual—slitting my wrist—to earn the right to marry him. In my previous life, I got what I wanted—I married him and we performed the mate bonding ceremony. With that union, he inherited the High King's resources and rose to become the ruler of all four clans. However, what I did not expect was that after our wedding, he turned around and marked my adoptive sister. My parents were furious and sent her away. From that day on, Iris hated me with a vengeance. He surrounded himself with women who all looked eerily like her. One by one, they came—each more vicious than the last. With his silent approval, they tore me down, piece by piece, until I was nothing more than a joke—no longer the queen I once was. The suffering pushed me into severe depression. Only suppressants keep my wolf form from spiraling out of control. Until one day, my medication was replaced with a slow-acting poison. He was the one who did it. I died alone, locked away in the cold palace, a child still growing inside me. However, fate gave me another chance. In this life, I would not make the same mistake. When the High King once again asked me to choose a partner for the marriage alliance, I chose Damon—the one no one ever noticed—without even blinking.

"body of a woman who shares her exact name. In this new life, her father died in battle long ago, and to secure their place within the powerful Calud family, her mother raised her as a boy from birth.As Morgan grows older, she is torn between her longing to reclaim her true identity and the constant fear that discovery would bring death upon both her and her mother. Determined to escape this dangerous double life, she plans to flee with her mother before the truth can be exposed.But her plans are derailed when she catches the attention of Shane Burke, the ruthless and immensely powerful prince of a different royal line in the Aetheria Empire. Taken into his residence against her will, Morgan is forced into a perilous game of wits and survival, where one wrong move could cost her everything.

Julia Miller dies betrayed by her boyfriend, her best friend, and the woman who stole her identity all had a hand in it. In her final moments she learns the truth, that she was switched at birth, her entire life taken before it even started. She comes back furious and binds to the Stealing System, which does exactly what it sounds like. First order of business—every coin in Vivian Lawson’s accounts, gone. Then the system unlocks deeper abilities—steal luck, steal skills, steal the room. From auction houses to hotel lobbies, Julia dismantles her enemies one stolen advantage at a time. The finale lands where it all began. The fake heiress’ mother was the wealthy family’s housekeeper all along, the one who switched two infant girls and walked away. Julia takes back her name, her inheritance, and her life. The people who took from her get exactly what they gave.

The apocalypse has come, and humanity enters the Age of Sailing, where everyone awakens a fishing system. Liam Ward becomes known as a useless nobody, even by his girlfriend Quinn Johnson. He spends a month at sea catching fish just to buy her a gift—only to discover she is cheating on him with a wealthy heir, Devin Shaw. Humiliated and heartbroken, he quits the relationship. But during a voyage, he hauls up a thousand-year-old female corpse… who wakes and calls him her honey.

After losing her parents, Anna was taken in by Mrs. Kane—her mother’s closest friend—and grew up alongside the Kane brothers, Gordy and Jonathan. The two boys were stars of their school's hockey club, while Anna became their manager, always cleaning up their messes and keeping everything running smoothly. For years, the three were inseparable, perfectly in sync both on and off the ice. But everything changed when Katie, the school beauty, set her sights on Anna’s position. Through carefully plotted schemes and whispered lies, she framed Anna for mistakes, drove a wedge between her and the brothers, and slowly turned them against her. Humiliated and heartbroken, Anna grew distant from Gordy and Jonathan. Eventually, she gave up and transferred to another school, where she met hockey star Ethan and became his manager instead. Only after she was gone did the Kane brothers begin to see the truth about Katie—and by then, it was far too late.

After her death, modern-day elite assassin Morgan Calud awakens in the body of a woman who shares her exact name. In this new life, her father died in battle long ago, and to secure their place within the powerful Calud family, her mother raised her as a boy from birth.As Morgan grows older, she is torn between her longing to reclaim her true identity and the constant fear that discovery would bring death upon both her and her mother. Determined to escape this dangerous double life, she plans to flee with her mother before the truth can be exposed.But her plans are derailed when she catches the attention of Shane Burke, the ruthless and immensely powerful prince of a different royal line in the Aetheria Empire. Taken into his residence against her will, Morgan is forced into a perilous game of wits and survival, where one wrong move could cost her everything.

I'm Isa Borgia, the daughter of the most powerful Don in Corvina. My father worries I'll marry the wrong man on a whim, so he arranges for me to be engaged to Luca, the rising heir of the Marino family. It's an arranged marriage, but that doesn't mean I've lost all my say. The very least I can do is choose a ring I genuinely like. So, I go to the mafia auction. When the diamond ring appears as the final jewel of the night, I lift my paddle. Just before the gavel falls, an arrogant voice comes from behind me. "A country bumpkin like you thinks you can compete with me? Do yourself a favor and leave." The auction hall goes quiet for a few seconds. The only sound comes from the camera shutters clicking around the hall. I turn and see a woman in a gold couture gown. Her mouth curves in a casual smile, as if she owns the place. Before I can say a word, the auctioneer rushes to close the bid.
"Sold! Congratulations to Ms. Sofia Lopez for winning the final lot, the Eternal Star!" My brows pull tight, and a hot spike of anger rises in my chest. "You ended the bidding early! Do you even follow the rules here?" Sofia turns around and gives me a once-over, her gaze sharp as a blade. 
"Rules?" She lets out a cold laugh. "Come on. I'm Luca Marino's favorite godsister. Around here, I make the rules!" I can't help but laugh. What a coincidence. So, she's my fiance's godsister. I pull out my phone and call him. "Luca, your godsister just snatched the engagement ring I picked out. How are you going to handle this?"

A family conspiracy put Molly’s life in danger, but mafia boss Jack helped her survive and rise from the ashes. Little did they know, a greater conspiracy was awaiting them...

When Emily Harper is sold out by her family to the highest bidder, she escapes and has a one-night stand with billionaire Charles Sinclair. She gives birth to triplets, but loses one to her evil stepsister Vivian, who claims her eldest child is stillborn. Escaping with her remaining twins, little did Emily expect her twins to be superheroes – one is a super genius, and the other is a star fighter with super strength! Years later, Emily and her twins come back to town, only to find that Vivian is engaged to Charles and raising his son. But this boy, with his superhuman sixth sense, senses that Emily is his true mother! As the three superpowered kids bring their parents together and help to defeat their evil families, will Emily and Charles find love again?

Rihanna injures Gael, CEO of Doyle Group, and mistakenly believes she has caused him to lose his ability to have children. Out of responsibility, she chooses to marry him. But Gael has secretly loved her for many years. He decides to conceal his "medical condition," seizing the opportunity to be close to her, and begins a sweet love story with Rihanna where marriage comes before love.

Five years ago, a car accident left Hansel blind in Emerald Town, where he assumed the identity of Hans. He met the kind-hearted Joyce (Lily), and they fell in love. After an accident, Joyce selflessly donated her cornea to restore Hans's sight. Upon recovery, Hans regained his true name, Hansel. Due to blindness and pregnancy, Joyce was married to him by her family with a three-million-dollar dowry. Unaware of each other's identities, they faced misunderstandings and barriers. Joyce gave birth to their daughter, Star, whom Hansel misunderstood due to infidelity suspicions. In a touching moment before Star's death from leukemia, she donated her cornea to restore her mother's sight. Full of sorrow, Hansel and Joyce finally discovered each other's true selves, unveiling Shirley's schemes. Driven by madness, Shirley kidnapped Joyce. To protect their daughter and love, Joyce made a difficult choice. How will this complicated tale end?

Three years ago, Ryan, America's most promising astronaut trainee, gave up a historic promotion to live in anonymity as a devoted husband to Vanessa. Unbeknownst to him, Vanessa, blinded by materialism, secretly pined for her wealthy childhood friend, Jackson. Heartbroken, Ryan reclaimed his identity to join a perilous national space mission. Knowing he might not return, he anonymously donated a kidney to save Vanessa. Only after his disappearance did she realize her loss.Their final encounter was at a nationally televised awards ceremony... where Ryan stood honored, with an elegant and beautiful woman by his side……

Vincenzo Moretti was Stonehaven’s youngest financial titan— a tech mogul commanding a multibillion-dollar empire, gracing the covers of business magazines as a modern legend. But only a select few knew the truth: he was also the ruthless Don controlling the East Coast mafia. To him, wealth and power were mere chips in a game. And I? I was just another pawn used to stabilize a fragile family alliance. In our ten-year marriage, he slept with my friends, my coworkers… every single person I once trusted. Then one morning, as I took our one-month-old baby for a routine checkup, Sienna Newton, his latest mistress, ran me down with her car. The baby screamed endlessly. I begged her to take us to the hospital, and when Vincenzo arrived, he looked at me with cold disdain. “Isabella,” he sneered, “when did you learn to stage accidents? “Even if you died here, I wouldn’t bat an eye.” Then he took Sienna’s hand and walked away without a backward glance. By the time I was rushed to the hospital, the child in my arms had suffocated. Upon hearing the news, my mother suffered a heart attack. She didn’t survive. I slipped into a coma for two days. When I finally woke up, I found out that Vincenzo never visited. Instead, his father, Renato Moretti, the true king of the Moretti empire, stood by my bedside. I looked at him calmly and said, “Let me go. Whatever I owed your family, I’ve repaid in full with two lives.” Later, that same Don who had once looked down on me knelt before me, begging me to come home. But I was no longer the woman who waited, silent and broken, for his change of heart. I was the Don’s wife who turned away and never looked back.

My mate fell in love with the mute Omega who saved his life and wanted to call off our engagement. I kindly advised him, "The position of Alpha Queen is not an easy one. She may not be able to bear the responsibility." The mute Omega felt insulted and committed suicide by taking Wolfsbane. Eight years later, when Ryan became the Alpha King, the first thing he did was destroy the Snowfang Pack and come for my life. "This is what all of you owe Saya." When I opened my eyes again, I was back at my 18th birthday banquet. Ryan's father, the former Alpha King, had once asked me what my wish was. "Since Ryan and Saya are each other's fated ones, let them be together. Let them complete their bond under the moonlight and receive the blessing of the Moon Goddess."

My mate fell in love with the mute Omega who saved his life and wanted to call off our engagement. I kindly advised him, "The position of Alpha Queen is not an easy one. She may not be able to bear the responsibility." The mute Omega felt insulted and committed suicide by taking Wolfsbane. Eight years later, when Ryan became the Alpha King, the first thing he did was destroy the Snowfang Pack and come for my life. "This is what all of you owe Saya." When I opened my eyes again, I was back at my 18th birthday banquet. Ryan's father, the former Alpha King, had once asked me what my wish was. "Since Ryan and Saya are each other's fated ones, let them be together. Let them complete their bond under the moonlight and receive the blessing of the Moon Goddess.

Growing up as a girl from the slums, Sophia encounters the most incredible opportunity in her darkest hour: she's chosen as the heir of the largest organization in the world! As Sophia steps onto this glorious but dangerous path, she'll have to face many trials. Even with the immensely powerful Louis by her side, her victories must come with sacrifices. Sophia will have to rely on her own efforts to truly rise from the ashes...