Breaking the ice
Adrian Hayes has everything most people dream fame, wealth, championships, and millions of fans. But one carefully planned scandal threatens to destroy it all overnight. After being framed in a false intimacy scandal before the league playoffs, Adrian's sponsors withdraw, his reputation crumbles, and the team gives him only one week to restore public trust.
Desperate, his PR team proposes an unusual solution: create the image of a loyal, wholesome friendship with someone outside the hockey world. During the search, Adrian unexpectedly reunites with Ethan Brooks, a struggling photographer he knew during university.
Ethan is fighting a different battle. His mother's mounting hospital bills have pushed him to the edge of bankruptcy, forcing him to reject his dream photography projects. Although uncomfortable with becoming part of a publicity campaign, Ethan finally accepts Adrian's generous six-month contract to save his mother's life.
As they appear together at games, charity events, interviews, and photo shoots, the public becomes fascinated by their effortless chemistry. Their fake friendship slowly develops into genuine trust, then affection, and eventually love.
However, fame comes at a price. Their contract is leaked, jealous rivals manipulate the media, and both men are forced to choose between protecting their careers or following their hearts. Through injuries, betrayals, family struggles, and public judgment, Adrian and Ethan discover that the greatest victory is not winning championships but finding someone willing to stand beside them long after the cameras stop rolling.
Read
Chapter: Standing in the LightThe morning sun broke through the heavy grey clouds, filling the stone house in Westchester with soft, pale light.Downstairs in the kitchen, the air was warm and quiet. The storm from the night before had completely passed. There were no more secrets hanging in the room, no subtle tensions, and no hidden envelopes tucked away in dark office drawers.Adrian sat at the wooden dining table, wearing a comfortable dark blue sweater and grey sweatpants. Beside him sat Ethan, their hands tightly laced together on top of the smooth wood. Adrian’s broad face looked tired, with light shadows beneath his blue eyes, but his posture was relaxed, open, and completely grounded. For the first time in weeks, he was breathing easily.He didn't have to pretend to be unbreakable anymore."Are you sure you're ready for this, my love?" Ethan asked softly, leaning over to press a gentle kiss to Adrian’s shoulder. "We can give it a few more days if you need rest."Adrian looked down at Ethan, his expression
Last Updated: 2026-09-17
Chapter: The Broken PromiseThe front door clicked open softly, but the house was completely silent.Adrian stepped into the warm entryway and closed the door behind him. The rich, savory aroma of roasted chicken and herbs filled the air, drifting gently from the kitchen. On the marble counter, a wooden cutting board sat next to a half chopped onion, a bottle of olive oil, and an empty glass bowl.Ethan wasn't in the kitchen.Adrian took off his heavy winter coat, hanging it on the wooden rack by the door. "Ethan?" he called out softly, his voice echoing through the quiet house.There was no answer.Adrian walked further into the kitchen, his eyes landing on a small, hand written sticky note left on the counter beside the chopping board:Ran out of heavy cream and fresh garlic for dinner! Be back in twenty minutes from the grocery store. Love you! ❤️Adrian let out a long, quiet breath. He had prepared his mind during the long drive home from the hospital, steeling his courage to walk through the door and tell E
Last Updated: 2026-09-16
Chapter: Shadows of the PastThursday morning arrived with a heavy, gray fog hanging over Manhattan. The tall glass skyscrapers melted into the pale sky, and a cold autumn rain drizzled continuously against the side windows of Adrian’s dark SUV.Inside the quiet car, Adrian sat in the driver's seat parked outside the main entrance of New York Presbyterian Hospital.He looked down at his smartphone on the passenger seat. There was a text message from Ethan sent just twenty minutes ago:Good luck with the team strategy meeting today, my love! I'm making your favorite roast chicken for dinner tonight. Take a deep breath. I love you! ❤️Adrian stared at the glowing screen for a long, painful moment.There was no strategy meeting with the Titans' front office today. Adrian had lied again. He had left the stone house in Westchester at seven in the morning, telling Ethan that he needed to review game film early with the coaching staff.Instead, he had driven straight to the hospital for his secondary high resolution car
Last Updated: 2026-09-14
Chapter: The Weight of SilenceThe first week of November brought a heavy, gray chill to Westchester County. Frost coated the green grass outside the stone house every morning, and the tall oak trees in the backyard lost the last of their golden autumn leaves.Inside the house, everything looked completely normal on the surface. Firewood crackled softly in the living room fireplace, hot coffee brewed in the kitchen at six o'clock every morning, and Ethan’s darkroom in the glass studio stayed busy as he worked on his upcoming photo gallery exhibit.But beneath the quiet warmth of their new life, an invisible wall was slowly building between them.Adrian was changing, and Ethan noticed every single detail.It started with small things. Adrian had always been a man of strict habits. For as long as Ethan had known him, the Titans' captain woke up at five thirty every morning without an alarm. He would spend forty five minutes in their home gym doing heavy weight training or riding the stationary bike, followed by a pro
Last Updated: 2026-09-13
Chapter: Quiet WarningThe crisp autumn air turned colder as October gave way to November.At the stone house in Westchester, life had settled into a quiet, beautiful rhythm. Ethan’s new glass photography studio was fully set up in the backyard. Every morning, sunlight poured through the high windows, illuminating rows of newly developed prints hanging neatly to dry. The hardcover edition of The Road to Redemption was still topping best seller lists across the country, but inside their home, everything remained grounded, calm, and peaceful.For Adrian, the new month marked the official start of the hockey preseason.As the star captain of the Titans, Adrian’s days were once again packed with grueling ice practices, team strategy sessions, and intense media briefings. The organization was completely clean now. Maxwell’s toxic influence was entirely gone, replaced by honest management and strict integrity. Under Adrian’s steady leadership, the team was stronger, tighter, and more focused than ever.Every year
Last Updated: 2026-09-12
Chapter: A Place of Our OwnThe cool October morning was quiet and clear as the moving truck pulled away from the tree lined driveway.Ethan stood on the front lawn of the new house, his hands tucked into the pockets of his soft wool cardigan. The air smelled of crisp autumn leaves, damp earth, and pine.After months of living in the security heavy Manhattan brownstone and traveling back and forth from temporary safe houses during the darkest days of the trial, Adrian and Ethan had finally found their forever home.It was a magnificent two story stone house nestled on three private acres in Westchester County, surrounded by tall oak and maple trees. It wasn't built like a corporate fortress or a hidden bunker. It had huge bay windows, a wide wraparound porch, a sloping green lawn, and a separate, high ceilinged glass cottage in the backyard that was already being converted into Ethan’s private photography studio.A pair of broad, warm arms wrapped gently around Ethan’s waist from behind.Adrian pulled Ethan back
Last Updated: 2026-09-11
The Alpha king's captive
Valerie Sterling has lived by a single rule since her childhood pack was slaughtered: never shift, never imprint, and never stay in one territory for more than a single moon cycle. Working as a rogue apothecary on the fringes of the supernatural underworld, she uses her rare knowledge of silver infused herbs to mask her scent from predators. But when a lethal, mysterious plague begins sweeping through the northern packs, Valerie is captured by elite scouts and dragged directly to the fortress of the most terrifying wolf alive Alpha Silas Vance of the Ironclaw Pack.
Silas is a desperate ruler. His warriors are dying, his rivals are circling, and his own wolf is growing increasingly unstable without a fated mate to anchor him. When Valerie is brought before him in chains, Silas doesn’t just smell an untamed rogue; he recognizes the sudden, explosive spark of a fated match. But Valerie represents everything his traditionalist pack fears, and her blood carries secrets that could bring down his entire empire.
To save his people from the plague and protect Valerie from the bloodthirsty Alpha Council, Silas forces her into a dangerous arrangement: act as his dedicated pack healer and pretend to be his submissive, betrothed mate. Trapped in a den of monsters, Valerie must play a deadly game of corporate and political survival, navigating vicious pack politics and her own treacherous, growing desire for the beast who holds her captive. As the real mastermind behind the plague steps into the light, Valerie and Silas must decide if they will destroy each other or let their forbidden bond burn the old world to ashes.
Read
Chapter: The Oath of New GenesisThe sky above New Genesis burned with red lightning and thick black smoke. High above the white stone rooftops, thousands of red attack pods rained down from the floating corporate warship, slamming into the outer walls and stone streets with deafening thuds. Iron doors hissed open, and hundreds of mechanical corporate soldiers poured into the valley, their red eye visors glowing in the dark, heavy plasma rifles raised and ready to kill. Panic surged through the central plaza. Mothers pulled their children close, screaming in fear, while old men stumbled back toward the safety of their homes. On the high palace balcony, Silas stood in his massive twelve foot Silver Wolf form, his silver fur bristling against the harsh black wind blowing from the rift. His gray eyes burned like twin suns. Beside him, Valerie stood with her hands held high, her Silvercrest light radiating outward like a protective shield, slowing down the plasma blasts that crashed against the palace gates. Ten year
Last Updated: 2026-07-25
Chapter: The Shattered HorizonThree months had passed since the day the Celestial Dome healed New Genesis. The empire had entered a time of perfect, unbroken peace. Disease was gone, the farm fields produced twice as much food as before, and the city’s defense guards spent their days training peacefully under the clear blue sky. Prince Alec, now ten, was studying how to be a strong leader under Tomas and Jamil, while five year old Princess Rin filled the palace gardens with laughter, her tiny crescent moon birthmarks glowing happily whenever she played. It was a quiet, warm evening. The setting sun painted the sky in beautiful shades of orange, pink, and purple. Silas and Valerie stood on the grand upper balcony of the royal palace, holding hands as they watched their children play on the green grass below. Silas wore a dark blue tunic that fit his broad shoulders, his storm gray eyes clear and peaceful. Valerie leaned comfortably against his side, her hand resting over his heart, enjoying the calm warm breeze.
Last Updated: 2026-07-25
Chapter: The Celestial DomeThe morning sun rose high over New Genesis, throwing a warm, golden light across the white stone towers and clean streets of the capital city. The air was cool, clean, and fresh, filled with the sweet smell of morning rain and soft green grass. The entire valley was quiet and peaceful, but inside the central chamber of the royal palace, a deep, excited energy filled the room.The central chamber was a huge round room made of dark, polished stone that sparkled like the night sky. In the exact middle of the floor sat a large, round platform made of solid silver. Connected to this platform were thick energy cables running along the floor and up into the stone roof. These cables traveled straight into the four massive, tall energy towers built at the four corners of the city walls. Surrounding the platform were complex machines and tall glass tubes filled with glowing blue and silver liquid.Silas and Valerie stood together on top of the round silver platform. Silas wore a simple dark lea
Last Updated: 2026-07-25
Chapter: The Power of the Silver AlphaThe morning sun rose high over New Genesis, throwing a warm golden light across the wide stone training grounds. The morning air was cool, clean, and fresh, filled with the sweet smell of early rain and green grass.On the stone field, Silas stood ready for battle. He wore a simple leather vest and soft brown pants. His storm gray eyes were bright and sharp. Surrounding him in a wide circle were Tomas, Jamil, and twenty of the strongest guards in the whole kingdom. Every single guard held a heavy steel sword and a thick shield."Do not hold back," Silas said with a calm, quiet smile. "Attack me all at the same time."Tomas looked at Jamil, then laughed out loud. "You asked for it, Alpha!"With a loud battle cry that echoed off the stone walls, all twenty guards charged forward at the exact same moment. Their heavy steel swords flashed bright in the sunlight as they rushed toward their King.Silas did not even pull out a weapon. He simply closed his eyes and focused his mind.Glow.In
Last Updated: 2026-07-24
Chapter: The Royal ReturnThe news moved faster than the wind down the green valley. By the time Silas reached the outer roads of the city, thousands of people had already gathered along the high granite walls and white stone streets. They had heard the thunderous roar that shook the mountains. They had felt the ground vibrate beneath their feet. But nothing prepared them for the magnificent, breathtaking sight walking through the main gates.Silas trotted into the city center in his massive, god-like wolf form. His fur was as dark as a midnight sky, covered with thick, glowing silver armor stripes that hummed with magical celestial light. The giant beast moved with slow, powerful grace, carrying Prince Alec and Princess Rin safely on his broad, soft back.The entire city erupted into insane cheers. Humans dropped their tools in the fields, and cured wolves fell to their knees, weeping with tears of pure joy. The people had always loved Silas as a brave, brilliant human general, but seeing him in his ultimate,
Last Updated: 2026-07-23
Chapter: The Silver Wolf AwakensThe explosion blew dark smoke and bright silver sparks high into the sky. A huge howl echoed through the distant mountains, leaving the whole field completely quiet.Tomas, Jamil, and the guards stayed on their knees, covering their faces from the flying dirt. The air felt heavy and warm, making the hair on their arms stand up.Slowly, the wind blew the thick dust away.Standing at the bottom of the broken cliff was not just a man, and it was not the old wolf from the past wars. Silas had completely changed.He was huge and beautiful. In his wolf form, Silas stood twelve feet tall at the shoulders. His fur was as black as the night sky, covered with thick, glowing silver stripes. The silver marks hummed with the same bright magic as Queen Valerie’s healing light. His eyes were twin pools of glowing silver, shining like bright stars.He was now the Silver Alpha a legendary mix of wolf strength and silver light.Ten year old Alec stared up at the giant wolf in total awe. He felt no fear
Last Updated: 2026-07-23
Owned by the debt
"You didn't marry me to save the vineyard. You married me because I let you think you had a choice."
When Marisol Duarte buries her father, she inherits more than a dying vineyard she inherits his ruin. Rafael Duarte spent years gambling against the one man who was always waiting to collect: Adrian Ramirez, the cold, controlled heir next door, and the last living reminder of a feud two generations deep.
Adrian doesn't want her money. He wants her land and, though he'd never admit it first, he wants her. He offers Mars a way out: marry him, and the debt disappears. Two years, a contract, nothing more. She tells herself she can survive anything for two years.
What she doesn't know is that Adrian has been watching her long before her father ever owed him a cent and the marriage she thinks she's negotiating was never really a bargain at all. It was inevitable.
As the walls of the Ramirez estate close around her, Mars finds herself caught between a husband whose devotion looks dangerously like possession, an ex who believes he's the one meant to save her, and a hundred-year-old lie both families have used to justify what they've done to each other. The closer she gets to Adrian, the less she's sure whether she's falling in love or finally understanding just how long she's already been caught
Read
Chapter: Blurred LinesThe reporter lowered his microphone, staring at Adrian in silence.The reporters stood frozen. The guests held their breath. Camera lights flashed bright across the grand room, but Adrian did not look at any of them. He only looked at Marisol. His fingers stayed locked with hers, warm and solid."That will be all," Adrian said smoothly to the quiet room.He did not wait for the reporter to ask another question. He guided Marisol away from the terrace doors and back into the center of the warm ballroom. The crowd parted for them, people whispering behind their hands as they passed.Marisol’s heart was hammering against her ribs. Her mind was spinning.My marriage to Marisol is completely real.The words repeated in her head, over and over. Adrian had said it with such power. He had looked straight into the camera and said it like a promise. It had sounded so honest, so real, that for a tiny second, Marisol had almost believed him.And that scared her more than anything else.Where did
Last Updated: 2026-09-05
Chapter: The Public MaskMarisol woke up early the next morning before the sun had even cleared the horizon.She lay perfectly still under her white cotton duvet, staring up at the grand plaster ceiling of her bedroom. Her lips still felt slightly warm and swollen from the night before. Every time she closed her eyes, the memory of Adrian’s dark bedroom hit her like a physical shock the heavy scent of whiskey and cedar, the tight grip of his hands on her waist, and the wild, rough press of his mouth against hers.It was a mistake, she told herself firmly, squeezing her eyes shut. He said it himself. It was just anger. It was just stress.That was the story she chose to believe. It was the only way she could keep her head clear. They were two people trapped in an impossible situation, forced into a fake marriage while fighting over old family secrets. It was completely natural for all that dark tension to explode into a moment of pure madness.She decided right then that she would act as if it had never happen
Last Updated: 2026-09-05
Chapter: Sparks in the DarkThe morning air outside the mansion was cool, but the ground was already warm under the bright sun. Adrian did not wait for the guards to pull open the heavy wooden doors. He pushed them open himself and walked out into the driveway. His leather shoes hit the stone ground with loud, fast clicks. Each step he took showed how angry he was.Marisol walked right behind him. Her heart was beating fast against her ribs, and her hands were clamped into tight fists at her sides. She could feel the anger coming off Adrian in hot waves, but she was just as angry.Nico was waiting near his bright red sports car. He had his arms crossed over his chest, leaning back against the shiny metal. The moment his eyes landed on Marisol, his small, fake smile grew wider. He pushed himself off the car and took a step toward her, completely ignoring the two large security guards standing near the iron gates."Marisol!" Nico called out. His voice was smooth and friendly, but it sounded fake in the quiet morni
Last Updated: 2026-08-15
Chapter: The Hidden BlueprintMarisol closed her bedroom door with a quiet, trembling click. Her heart was beating fast, and her breath came in short, ragged hitches.The image of her own face staring back at her from those old photographs was burned into her mind. She walked back and forth across the carpet, her hands balled into tight fists inside her robe pockets. She was furious, humiliated, and deeply shaken. Adrian had spoken to her like a master scolding a child, threatening her with vague promises of punishment.He expects me to be scared, she thought, her eyes narrowing in the dark room. He thinks I will just sit in the corner, hiding from his dark secrets.She did not sleep a single minute that night. As the morning sun began to light up her room in shades of gray and gold, her fear slowly turned into a cold, sharp determination. She was not a pawn in a game she didn't understand. If Adrian Ramirez had been watching her for five years, she was going to force him to tell her why.At seven in the morning,
Last Updated: 2026-08-13
Chapter: The Room of MapsThe heavy iron handles of the double doors felt like ice against Marisol’s fingers. She stood in the pitch black hallway, her heart pounding hard against her ribs. Turn around, her brain warned her. Go to the kitchen, get your water, and go back to bed. But the memory of Adrian’s blushing face, his cousin’s strange warnings, and the sheer emptiness of the rest of the house pulled her forward. She couldn't live here like a ghost, surrounded by secrets she wasn't allowed to understand. She reached into the pocket of her silk robe and pulled out a small, thin metal hairpin. When she was twelve years old, she and Camila used to sneak into their father’s locked wine cellar to steal sweet fruit juices. Picking simple tumbler locks was an old childhood skill she had forgotten she possessed a silly trick she had never expected to use as an adult. Marisol knelt down in front of the keyhole. She inserted the metal pin, feeling for the small pins inside the lock. Click. The sound was
Last Updated: 2026-08-08
Chapter: The Shape of His WallsAdrian slowly raised his eyes from his desk, looking at Marisol. The strange, embarrassed flush on his cheekbones was still fading, but his expression turned serious as her words sank in."Camila?" he asked softly."Yes, Camila," Marisol said, crossing her arms tight over her chest. "She is my sister, Adrian. She is only nineteen years old. She is sitting in our father's house all by herself, surrounded by empty rooms and bad memories. I won't leave her there alone while I live in this giant museum."She expected him to push back. She expected him to bring up privacy, or the rules of the contract, or how his grandmother Beatriz would react to having another Duarte living under their roof. She stood tall, preparing herself for a fight.Instead, Adrian just nodded."She can have the room next to yours," he said simply. His voice was low, devoid of any anger or resistance. "I will have the staff clean it tomorrow morning. She can bring whatever she needs from your old home."Marisol blin
Last Updated: 2026-08-06
LOGIN
